Gearing up for girls’ hoops campaign
Halloween is over, November is here.
It is time for the winter sports schedules to make their appearance. The gym is a busy place November through February, with two 7th- and 8th-grade teams and three high school teams vying for space. And that doesn’t even count the winter track team, which normally practices outdoors.
The junior high (AKA Modified) programs are the girls volleyball and boys basketball teams which concentrate on learning skills and basic game strategy. The high school teams are girls and boys basketball, winter track and cheer. While most don’t have games or meets until the end of November, practices are gearing up.
This year, the girls’ Junior Varsity team has a new coach. Peter Miedema, a longtime baseball and boys basketball coach is taking over the reins of the girls program. Coach Miedema is no stranger to the girls game. He coached the high school girls for six seasons, from 2009-10 through 2014-15.
Four of those seasons then-teacher-and-not-yet-Doctor Doelger was the varsity assistant and JV coach. Coach Miedema will also continue to coach the 7th & 8th grade boys basketball team.
He is hoping to rebuild the JV program. Last year the team had a roster of six, which quickly dropped to five active players when Makayla Cronin sustained an injury in the opening minutes of their first game. The team made it through the season despite the everyone-plays-every-minute limitations.
The girls who played last season are enthusiastic and have encouraged their friends to join this year. The team hopes to have a roster of at least 10 players. That is a crucial number that allows realistic scrimmages in practice, and allows players to rest for short periods during games. Several of the players plan to be dual athletes, primarily with the cheer squad.
Natalie Masmisashvili and Maeve Springer are the only returning players. Most other athletes played in 7th or 8th grade and will be stepping on the high school court for the first time after taking a season or two off.
While Coach Miedema has a reputation as being intense when comes to sports, he envisions practice as “90 minutes of enthusiasm, energy, and fun.” He feels that learning skills can be enjoyable. For example, while kids are drilling individual skills, a music playlist might help motivate them.
“This is a respectful and coachable group, and they want to be taught,” he said. “They are ready to work, and want to win.”
The coach feels very confident that the 2026-27 team will be successful. “I’d like to see every athlete to be able to one or two things very well,” he said. “All players should be confident enough to drive to the basket.” He admits that it will take some time, but “I believe we can hang with a lot of teams out here.”
With the WNBA season over (Congrats, Valkyries!), it is time to focus on high school and college hoops. Find your stadium seat cushion and plan to hit the gym and root on our Islanders in just a few weeks.
