Ken Roberts
For The New Era
For the girls basketball team, the retooling of the program continues under the watchful eye of first-year head coach John Barnes.
The arduous climb following a one-win season last year will be a difficult one, but one that Barnes is ready to tackle. Barnes’ closest ties to Sweet Home basketball have been at the fifth- and sixth-grade level for the last three years. However, he has had multiple years of coaching experience in many sports and levels, including a stint with the freshman boys team at South Albany.
Barnes believes his first task is changing the culture of the program and how it is viewed.
“The kids have to do that,” stated Barnes. “They have to buy in and say that they will work hard, show up to practices and play through minor aches and pains.”
So far in their practices, Barnes sees that taking place.
“I have no complaints,” Barnes said, referring to the character of the team. “We have kids that want to be here.”
Barnes has been purposely taking it slow in introducing the offensive and defensive systems to the team. Instead, he has been focusing on developing basic skills of ball handling and shooting.
What he hopes to accomplish is to build on a foundation of man-to-man defense and use the press when the occasion calls for it.
“I want to press,” said Barnes, “but I think I’m going to have to do it in situations, not the whole game.”
Offensively, the Huskies will spread the floor using a motion offense with some variations eased into it once they gain command of the basic plan. They also plan to employ a fast break as much as possible.
“We’re going to keep it simple,” explained Barnes. “If I throw too much at them, I think they are going to start struggling.”
Sweet Home has two returning seniors, Jenny Hamn and Paige Niemi. The 5-ll Hamn will give the Huskies a presence both inside and at the high post, counted on to be a consistent scorer week after week.
Barnes will lean on Niemi for her all-around play and hustle, and especially her leadership qualities.
“Paige will be our needs player,” stated Barnes. “Whatever the team needs, she will do it. Hopefully, the younger players are noticing how hard she is working and follow her lead.”
The basic squad will only include seven players, he said, with swing players from the JV team added to the game roster.
The roster will be an evolving one, based on player performance and injury or health circumstances.
Rylee Cole, a sophomore point guard and part-time starter last year, will handle those chores for the Huskies this year. Barnes looks for her to run the team and push the ball up the floor quickly. The backup to Cole is uncertain.
Junior Kishya Davis and sophomore Briana Yost also saw playing time on the varsity in the 2007-08 season. Both players can score outside. Yost also provides toughness that produces defensive turnovers and rebounds.
Rounding out the seven person team is outside shooter Cortnie Cuilla, a sophomore, who has played point guard in the past but is expected to move to a wing spot, and junior Dawnnita Justham, who provides the Huskies with some needed height. Cuilla may be counted on to be the defensive stopper for Sweet Home.
JV freshmen Annie Whitfield, Megan Rubidoux, Devyn Makin, and Emili Riggs should have an opportunity to see some varsity playing time as well.
Goals for the team may have to be flexible.Barnes thinks the schedule offers them opportunity for wins, but he has a different agenda.
“Of course, you want to win,” Barnes said. “But right now, we just want to get better.”
In the pre-season, Barnes wants the team to come together as a unit. Plus, it will be a learning situation for him.
“I’m going to learn more about the kids in a game situation,” he said. “Who’s going to be competitive and who’s going to step up.”