GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Defense is the name of the game for the Lodi High girls basketball team this season.
Leading the way for the Flames (5-2) are six seniors, including four starters. Last season, Lodi posted a 22-6 record that included a 5-3 mark in the Tri-City Athletic League, and earned a SacJoaquin Section Division II home playoff opener.
“We will rely upon them to handle things on the court,” said Lodi coach Brandon Shea of this year’s seniors. “They know what’s going on and ready to play every night.”
Shea stresses simple man-to-man defense, which helped the Flames to many wins last season.
“Man-to-man, push the ball up the court and keep the pace,” Shea said. “We’re not going to be one of those teams that presses all game long. Those teams that press all the time, come playoffs, can’t press all the time. I’m real big on team basketball.”
Leading the senior players returning is forward Monica Valenzuela, a fouryear starter. She made the TCAL’s first team last winter. Valenzuela has blossomed to 5-foot-11.
“She shoots the ball real well, getting rebounds and passing,” said Shea of Valenzuela. “She does a good job defensively, getting rebounds for us. This year, she’s got to come out and battle and be just as aggressive.”
Another front court player back for the Flames is forward Alexa Brand. At 5’8, Brand, a three-year starter, leads the Flames on and off the court.
“She’s a great motivator,” said Shea of Brand, who is a three-year starter. “One of our vocal leaders. She’s the one who can give you a smile if you’re having a bad game. Great shooter.”
Returning for Lodi is a player who was injured most of last year. Center Aubrey Andrews, who started as a sophomore, suffered a knee injury early last season at the start of last season as a junior that sidelined her for the remainder of the season.
“She’s gets a lot of rebounds, and is good around the basket,” said Shea of Andrews, who is now 6’1. “She’s quick around the basket.”
In the backcourt for the Flames is guard Aliana Gravenkamp. Last season, the senior, another three-year player, started in some games and came off the bench.
“She has a nice shot from the 3-point range,” said Shea of Gravenkamp.
Two seniors who should see action coming off the bench are guard Abby King and forward Alexis Acosta.
“We’re expecting them to lead this team into the playoffs, go further this year,” Shea said. “We are leaning on our senior leadership.”
Newcomers to Lodi are juniors Katelyn Eproson, Zoe Faulkner and Malina Nino, all of whom played on the Lodi frosh-soph team last winter. Shea has moved up three underclassmen; sophomore guard Marissa Fabian and center Veronica Alejandrez and freshman guard Aiyana Evans.
“We have a talented group of girls,” Shea said. “It’s just a matter of time of them putting it together. We’re establishing a rotation with our defense.”
Lincoln will be the team to beat in the TCAL this season, Shea notes. The Trojans return most of their players from last season that captured the league title. He’s also expecting Tracy and West, plus a much improved Tokay squad, to contend when league play begins next month.
Tokay
Last year, the Tigers finished with an 0-8 mark in the TCAL and 1-20 overall. This season, Tokay has doubled its total wins, now at 2-4.
Depth is a factor for Tokay coach Jennifer Bauer, returning for her seventh season. Last year, Bauer had only eight girls on the squad. This season, she has 13.
“We went from eight girls to 21 on the first day of tryouts,” Bauer said. “We have a brand new team. Everyone is just learning about each other — quick.”
Getting the Tigers’ offense in gear in the early stages of games is going to be a factor as the season progresses.
“Sometimes we struggle starting our offense,” Bauer said. “Instead of having to live and die by the outside shot, we want to establish our post (front court game) early, and make it easy on our guards.”
Leading the way for Tokay in two juniors; 6-foot center Annesa Spradely and forward Katie Price, who is playing two sports this winter as she plays goalie for the school’s varsity girls soccer team.
“Katie and Annesa make a great team in the post,” said Bauer of Price and Spradley. “That frees up our guards.”
In the backcourt for the Tigers is senior point guard Dallas Orvick. Joining her are Destiny Lopez, plus forward/center Nicole Segovia, who was on the Tokay volleyball team during the fall season. Lopez and Segovia are both juniors.
Bauer has moved up a freshman to the varsity squad in guard Mira Queirolo-Patino. Joining the underclassman are nine juniors, all vying for starting roles or coming off the bench.
“Pre-season is all about learning,” Bauer said.
As the Tigers continue their pre-season schedule going into TCAL action, the coach wants to add more wrinkles to their offensive and defensive sets. Right now, it’s all about the basics.
Liberty Ranch
Last season, Hawks coach David Moore saw his team go through a rough outing in the Sierra Valley Conference, going 3-7 and 11-16 overall. This year, Liberty Ranch is 2-2.
Liberty Ranch has six returning players this season; center Celina Maberto and guards Carson Lawton and Lakota Delgado. In the mix are junior guard Victoria Lambert and sophomores Briley Jordet and Ashley Kirbyson.
Three sophomores who played on the school’s frosh-soph team are Olivai Klotz, Kloey Calkins and Giovanna Prino. Freshmen making the move to varsity are Anjolina Garcia and Tori Azevedo.
“We are young, but we have quickness and good depth,” Moore said. “We make youthful mistakes, but we play hard.”
Galt
The Warriors, who went 0-10 in the SVC and 2-24 last season, have a new coach in Matt Silva, who replaces Christopher Mack.
Back on the court for Galt is guard Victoria Sokolova, one of two seniors on the team. The other is Nikole Devol.
“She’s got confidence,” said Silva of Sokolova. “She keeps us all together, going in the same direction.”
The rest of the squad are all juniors. Some of the newcomers are guard Hana Koyama and Katy Proctor, forward Amy Hebenstreich and center Lily McCalla.
Elliot Christian
Last year, the Eagles posted a 2-10 record in the Central California Athlet-
ic Alliance and 5-17 overall. The Eagles are also playing in the Linden Tournament with Tokay and Liberty Ranch.
Elliot has a new coach in Mike Graumann, who was the Lodi High freshmen girls basketball coach for the last three seasons.
Players he welcomes back are seniors in guards Tayton McCorstin and Charis Guerzo, forward Kinsey Archer, who also plays on the school’s volleyball team, and Abby Ramirez, plus junior guard Lexie Juelch.
The Eagles have two sophomores in Kayleigh Schrader, who also plays on Elliot’s volleyball and softball teams, Sophia Butler and Joanne Butler.
“We’re building some younger players,” Graumann said.
On offense, the Eagles are looking to run an offense that relies on two front court players in the post spots.
“We’ll run two posts, read and react offense,” Graumann said.
On defense, Elliot plans to run various zones; from 2-3 to 3-2 and 1-3-1. But as the season continues to move forward, Graumann said his squad could be playing man-to-man.
Lodi Academy
Playing in the Mountain Valley League, the Titans went 3-7 in league and 5-12 overall last winter.
Lodi Academy, which is 1-3 this season, has talent for coach Jonathan Solis, in his second season.
On the Titans’ 11-player roster are captains Janelle Estrada, a point guard who is the lone junior on the team, plus Annie Shih and Pearl Nevis, both seniors and captians.
“These three girls are important because we expect them to set the tone not only for our future team culture, but also our entire campus culture,” Solis said. “These three girls have greater importanace than they realize.”
Other seniors on the team are Abigail Beck and Miranda Hughes. Leia Nevis is the Titans’ lone sophomore on the team. Five freshmen rounding out the roster are Julia Fardsalehi, Navlynn Cheema, Elise Moreno, Emilyu Myers and Cyrstal Paculba.
The Titans, who are 1-3 for the season, run a motion offense and simple zone defenses. The development of the players in practices and games, plus creating a stronger culture among them and the school’s student body is key for Solis and the Titans.