The Big Park Community School girls basketball team began practice a few short weeks ago with one goal in mind: repeat last season’s success.
Big Park managed to post a 10-3 overall record and claimed a Verde Valley League title during the 2007-2008 campaign.
Not an easy task to repeat to say the least.
By Brian Bergner Jr.
Larson Newspapers
The Big Park Community School girls basketball team began practice a few short weeks ago with one goal in mind: repeat last season’s success.
Big Park managed to post a 10-3 overall record and claimed a Verde Valley League title during the 2007-2008 campaign.
Not an easy task to repeat to say the least.
In fact, most teams, and their coaches for that matter, aren’t even thinking of repeating a regional championship season after losing nine eighth-graders to graduation, but the Coyotes are the exception.
“We may be young, but we are very talented. This group of girls knows the game of basketball and now it’s just a matter of paying attention to the little things,” fourth-year head coach Christine Walter said.
For Big Park, it’s not a case of rebuilding, but reloading.
The Coyotes did manage to lose in the first round of the Small Schools State Tournament last season, ending a magical year on the hardwood for Big Park.
“It was an eye opener, that’s for sure,” Walter said, laughing.
Walter, who is a second grade teacher at Big Park, says this basketball team could be special if all the pieces fall into place, and she believes they will, starting with her players.
“I’ve never had a team of girls that could shoot so well, or have post presence or other important things on the basketball court,” Walter said.
The post presence Walter may be referring to starts and ends with her only starting returner from last season in eighth-grader Mary-Kate Hafner.
Hafner is a beast with a strong body and soft hands inside the lane, giving her a definite chance to be one of the better players in the league this season.
The other inside presence Walter may be speaking of is seventh-grader Morgan Hawes who could switch with Hafner between the center and power forward position.
The pair accommodate each other nicely and should prove tough for any team in the Verde Valley League to stop.
Moving on to the other starting five, seventh-grade point guard Amber Rippy has gotten better since last season and should give Walter and the Coyotes someone to start the offense.
At the other two guard positions, seventh-graders Colette Coasta and Anna Watson seem to have a good grasp on the position, but don’t overlook seventh-grader Josie Kolhan who is looking to impress on the coaching staff this season that she can start.
“I’ve really got six girls that can start; it’s just a matter of how it all works out,” Walter said.
The other three bench spots for the Coyotes should have a big impact on how the season turns out for Big Park with eighth-grader Amiee Villalobos leading the way.
Seventh-grader Kylie Capite and the only sixth-grader to make the “A” squad, McKenna Woodford, should give Walter plenty of minutes in effort to give the starters a rest this season.
Wrapping up the top 12 for the “A” team are seventh-graders Alex Redden and Christiana Benites and eighth-grader Kaylina Kunkle.
On Thursday, Nov. 13, Big Park kicked off its season with a huge victory over Mayer Middle School by the final score of 32-15.
The win puts the Coyotes at a perfect 1-0 on the season, a good start to Walter’s hopes of another Verde Valley championship season.
The girls were in action again on Tuesday, Nov. 18, against Beaver Creek School but results were unavailable at press time.
One of the standout games for Big Park this season is Clarkdale-Jerome Middle School on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
Also, Camp Verde Middle School always provides a stiff test for the Coyotes and this year will be no different when the Cowboys come to town on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Let’s not forget crosstown rival West Sedona School.
Big Park travels to the den of the Wildcats on Tuesday, Dec. 2, then plays them at home on Tuesday, Jan. 27, to end regular season play.
Look for Big Park to have a say in who becomes the 2008-2009 Verde Valley champion.
Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 131, or e-mail bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com
