In her four years of coaching high school girls basketball, new Sedona Red Rock High School junior varsity coach Stephanie Tomlinson has always brought a fire to the sidelines — and a body to practices.
“I’m very passionate, and I think the girls see that in the level of excitement that they see out there,” she said. “I definitely love getting in there and running drills with them on a regular basis. I’m going to be in good shape by the end of the season.”
With just 12 girls coming out so far for new head coach Dave Moncibaez, defense has been Tomlinson’s focus, both as an extra defender in JV and varsity practices and as an extra set of eyes during the Scorpions’ three preseason scrimmages Saturday, Nov. 21.
“I really don’t want to dismiss JV this year, because I don’t want to go through this again next year,” Moncibaez said. “It’s one of the more difficult things in practice, with so little numbers, practicing against air.
“The girls are going to a spot thinking somebody’s going to be there. When we actually have bodies against us, we still kind of get confused and lost when [the coaches] call out plays.”
Tomlinson, a second-year science teacher at Cottonwood Middle School, appreciates not only the better chemistry with Moncibaez but also the shorter commute to coaching in Sedona after driving to Flagstaff High School every day last season to coach the Eagles freshman team.
“Dave remembered me from my first two years as a varsity assistant,” she said. “I moved down here for work to be closer to my significant other.
“Dave and I are on the same page. Our coaching philosophies align. He made the connection, and we realized we would be a good fit.”
After an 11-14 first year under head coach Tyrone Johnson, Tomlinson helped the Flagstaff varsity rebound to records of 20-8, 19-12 and 23-6 the past three seasons.
“I want my girls to walk out fundamentally sound, ready for the intensity and the competitiveness of the varsity level [or] to lead a larger JV program next year,” said Tomlinson, who enters SRRHS looking to build a junior varsity that did not even play last season and is on its third staff in three years. “We’re very young, and we’re looking at a couple of sophomores practicing full-time with varsity who will just play down [on JV].
“I would love to see the varsity and JV with 10 [players] each, at least. From what I hear that’s coming out of West Sedona and Big Park [Community] schools, it’s definitely feasible.”
Until then, Tomlinson looks to take the considerable heart of her current squad and develop a full skill set from their already exisiting fundamentals.
“These girls give 110 percent,” she said. “I have three pretty solid ones in practice, although one is injured and battling shin splints.”
Kayla Rebago, one of two five-foot, seven-inch sophomores on the JV along with Cassia Rodriguez, provide paint support for the program’s lone freshman, Ana Stecklein, on the perimeter.
Add “tiny” sophomore Diana Estudillo, whose positive attitude has provided leadership at four feet, eight inches tall, and Tomlinson believes she has the right mix to build a program of whole players.
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Nov. 25, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.
