Lady Indians focus on fundamentals


Just two games into the season, the girls are beginning to findtheir groove: “It’s starting to click a little bit, said CoachBrian Becker.

Although they’re still trying to score their first victory ofthe season, they’ve come a long way since they began practicing onJanuary 25. Seven of the 8 girls are in the 8th grade, but in manyways it’s still a rookie team. Only four of the girls played lastyear, and one of those four only sporadically because of aninjury.

They’ve been working on the basics, such as dribbling, passingand basic defensive strategies. They’re starting to get a bettergrasp of floor mechanics, too, including “fundamental boxing outconcepts, setting picks, screens and using their teammates to openup the floor a little better, said Coach Becker.

Still, this sort of progress doesn’t immediately translate intobasketball victories. The girls endured a dismal season openeragainst East Hampton on February 24. Two girls were absent, leavinglittle opportunity for substitutions. “It was hard to get into anykind of rhythm, said Coach Becker.

They fared much better in Tuesday’s game against Springs,setting up their defense more quickly, dribbling with their headsup and demonstrating a better understanding of basketball concepts.Coach Becker noted strong performances from point guard OliviaGarrison, who controlled the offense, Brianna Rietvelt, who gave astrong showing beneath the boards and Annie Ross-Gates, whosedefensive skills have greatly improved.

Despite the team’s clear improvements, their efforts weren’tenough to beat Springs, who jumped out to an early lead that grewto 14-4 by halftime. Though the Indians stepped up their offensivecharge in the second half, Springs eventually took home the 30-19win.

Last year’s team won about half their games, but Coach BrianBecker is less concerned with the victories at the junior highlevel: “the biggest goal this season is just to reinforce thefundamentals that can be built upon when the girls move up toJV.

A large portion of last year’s 18-girl squad moved up to juniorvarsity, leaving the team with not just an inexperienced group butfew reserves on the bench. Though this year’s squad comes with itschallenges, Coach Becker is glad to help them progress: “you beginto notice that the light starts coming on ¦ I’malways excited to have that, to be part of that learning process tosee them developing.

It’s his second year coaching junior high, and he’s grown tolove it: “I coached varsity a couple of years back, and there’s alot different intensity being on the sideline then than there is[with junior high]. Junior high’s a lot more laid back¦ it’s about trying to teach more than anythingelse.

The girls will try again for their first win today at Montauk at4:15 p.m. Their next home game is against Southampton at 4 p.m. onMonday.