Team Preview: Whiteoak Lady Wildcats
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The 2011-12 Whiteoak Lady Wildcats are looking to improve on their most recent season. One year ago, WHS was 1-20 overall, falling in the first round of the sectional tournament.
This year in looking for the improvement needed to be a successful team, Whiteoak will have consistency with head coach Mike Cooper entering his second year with Whiteoak, and things can only go up for the program.
WHS, who were 1-12 in league games last season, will be led by seniors Marissa Bohl (5-7) and Jessie Gilliland, as they will have a combined seven years’ experience at the varsity level.
The 5-6 Gilliland averaged around 10 points per game last season.
"We have two seniors, both guards, and I look for them to improve with their scoring this season," Cooper said. "Both understand they need to step up their scoring for us to be successful this year."
The lone junior this season is Clarissa Johnson, and sophomores are Brittany Luman, Morgan Campbell, Mickey Wescott and Amber Gorman. Freshmen on the team will include: Emily Stratton, Jayde Parr, Courtney Cummings, Sunnie Lehr, Misty McClure and Savannah Johnson.
Clarissa Johnson had some playing time at varsity last season and Luman started at the JV level as Cooper said he expects good things out of Luman this season.
"We've had a really good summer and weight-lifting program this offseason," Cooper said. "The girls have been coming in on Saturdays if they missed during the week. I think we are in better shape than we were last season.
"Only having 13 girls this season, they are getting a lot of reps down the floor and continue to work hard."
Last year the Lady ’Cats had six seniors, but as mentioned earlier, this year they have just two.
"Really, it’s not that big a change for us because last year was my first year here, and I had to do a lot of teaching for some of the things I wanted done," Cooper said. "I have to do that again this year, but the kids know what is expected of them and how hard they are expected to work. They are doing a great job at it."
Cooper talked more about the work ethic of his team.
"We've been having practices, and it's been unreal," Cooper said. "We haven't had many bad practices … when we were in here for two hours, we look at the clock and we're like 'where did the time go? There are no breaks and they know they have to go hard when they are here."
Guard play will be very important this season with three players handling the ball by playing at the point.
"Jessie, Marissa and Clarissa all three are going to have to handle the basketball for us," Cooper said. "Some freshmen are going to have to feel out during the JV season and will be expected to contribute before the season is over."
Cooper describes this team as a focused team, saying they know what it takes to be together.
"They understand if they don’t work hard, it will be a long year, and they understand if they work hard they may surprise some people," he said.
As for the underclassmen?
"Most of them were participants in some summer leagues and a part of some shootouts we played in. They understand they can't just show up and expect to play," Cooper said. "They have to come in here and work, and that goes back to Jessie and Marissa.
"Those two lead by example by being the first to lead through drills and not only showing their teammates, but cheering them on."
Whiteoak won't have much height to use to their advantage this season.
"We are a small team other than Amber Gorman (who is 6-0). This is her first year playing in six or seven years, so she's come back and had a great summer with us and is focused on getting better," Cooper said.
Cooper is looking forward to getting the season started.
"The girls are excited," he said. "They know and the coaches know we can be a competitive team that can surprise a lot of people. Outside from us, they are probably hearing some things because we only won one game last year. We haven't won really for the last three or four year.
"We have to win games, and if we can do that we'll change some people's attitudes."
Cooper said he talks to his team about forgetting their past records.
"Every day is a new day," he said. "We talk about how it is important to come in focused and if you do your job and your teammates do their job, good things will happen.”[[In-content Ad]]
This year in looking for the improvement needed to be a successful team, Whiteoak will have consistency with head coach Mike Cooper entering his second year with Whiteoak, and things can only go up for the program.
WHS, who were 1-12 in league games last season, will be led by seniors Marissa Bohl (5-7) and Jessie Gilliland, as they will have a combined seven years’ experience at the varsity level.
The 5-6 Gilliland averaged around 10 points per game last season.
"We have two seniors, both guards, and I look for them to improve with their scoring this season," Cooper said. "Both understand they need to step up their scoring for us to be successful this year."
The lone junior this season is Clarissa Johnson, and sophomores are Brittany Luman, Morgan Campbell, Mickey Wescott and Amber Gorman. Freshmen on the team will include: Emily Stratton, Jayde Parr, Courtney Cummings, Sunnie Lehr, Misty McClure and Savannah Johnson.
Clarissa Johnson had some playing time at varsity last season and Luman started at the JV level as Cooper said he expects good things out of Luman this season.
"We've had a really good summer and weight-lifting program this offseason," Cooper said. "The girls have been coming in on Saturdays if they missed during the week. I think we are in better shape than we were last season.
"Only having 13 girls this season, they are getting a lot of reps down the floor and continue to work hard."
Last year the Lady ’Cats had six seniors, but as mentioned earlier, this year they have just two.
"Really, it’s not that big a change for us because last year was my first year here, and I had to do a lot of teaching for some of the things I wanted done," Cooper said. "I have to do that again this year, but the kids know what is expected of them and how hard they are expected to work. They are doing a great job at it."
Cooper talked more about the work ethic of his team.
"We've been having practices, and it's been unreal," Cooper said. "We haven't had many bad practices … when we were in here for two hours, we look at the clock and we're like 'where did the time go? There are no breaks and they know they have to go hard when they are here."
Guard play will be very important this season with three players handling the ball by playing at the point.
"Jessie, Marissa and Clarissa all three are going to have to handle the basketball for us," Cooper said. "Some freshmen are going to have to feel out during the JV season and will be expected to contribute before the season is over."
Cooper describes this team as a focused team, saying they know what it takes to be together.
"They understand if they don’t work hard, it will be a long year, and they understand if they work hard they may surprise some people," he said.
As for the underclassmen?
"Most of them were participants in some summer leagues and a part of some shootouts we played in. They understand they can't just show up and expect to play," Cooper said. "They have to come in here and work, and that goes back to Jessie and Marissa.
"Those two lead by example by being the first to lead through drills and not only showing their teammates, but cheering them on."
Whiteoak won't have much height to use to their advantage this season.
"We are a small team other than Amber Gorman (who is 6-0). This is her first year playing in six or seven years, so she's come back and had a great summer with us and is focused on getting better," Cooper said.
Cooper is looking forward to getting the season started.
"The girls are excited," he said. "They know and the coaches know we can be a competitive team that can surprise a lot of people. Outside from us, they are probably hearing some things because we only won one game last year. We haven't won really for the last three or four year.
"We have to win games, and if we can do that we'll change some people's attitudes."
Cooper said he talks to his team about forgetting their past records.
"Every day is a new day," he said. "We talk about how it is important to come in focused and if you do your job and your teammates do their job, good things will happen.”[[In-content Ad]]