Bulldogs looking to 'play as one' this season
Pictured left to right are returning starters Maggie Kirscher, Jordan Speelmon, Charissa Chatburn and Natasha Roop. The four will lead a relatively young team this season. (Photo by ERIC PLUMMER)
SANDPOINT — If hard work does indeed pay off, as the old saying goes, then it could be the best season in years for the Sandpoint girls basketball team, which kicks off its season tonight at home against Timberlake.
Injuries and youth were largely responsible for a one-win season last year, but that seems like a distant memory to the Bulldogs, who had both a varsity and JV team play more than 30 games together over the summer.
Head coach Lance Bruce believes the hard work in the off-season will pay dividends not only in rebounding, defense and scoring, but in team chemistry as well.
“We have to play as one in order to be competitive, helping each other out,” said Bruce of the key to the season. “Athletically we’re not the biggest or the fastest, so we have to be fundamentally sound. I think we have that capability and can be a good basketball team.”
Leading the way will be junior power forward Maggie Kirscher, who posted a handful of double-doubles last season en route to winning the 4A IEL Newcomer of the Year award. Bruce calls her a power player with great footwork, and she’ll be counted on to score both inside and out in the half court sets.
Joining Kirscher on the blocks will be senior post Natasha Roop, who features a bevy of low post moves and rebounding to the floor. Roop and senior guard Charissa Chatburn enter their fourth year as varsity players, and provide a nice inside-out combination.
“Tasha brings consistency and a high basketball IQ. She knows every position on the floor; a coach on the floor,” said Bruce, who will count on Chatburn to keep defenses extended. “She worked hard all summer and her teammates trust her to spot up and shoot the three.”
Rounding out the starting five will be speedy sophomore point guard Jordan Speelmon, who started many of the games last season, and freshman guard Hailey Olin. Freshman Kara Bruce will play backup point guard, and juniors Jenny Van Ooyen and Sammy Roop will provide depth off the bench.
The 4A IEL is wide open this season, with Lakeland a slight favorite to nab the lone berth at state based mostly on experience, while Moscow lost a lot.
The Bulldogs had a whopping 18 freshman turn out, an encouraging number for a program still trying to build something for the future. Last year there were times when the Bulldogs were forced to play with four post players on the court at the same time, and Bruce is hoping to speed things up a little more tempo-wise.
“We want to get out and push the ball in transition to help put points on the board,” said Bruce. “The focus is to be really good defensively and rebound well even though we don’t have a lot of height.”
The Bulldogs tip-off tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Les Rogers Court. The J2 team plays at 4 p.m., followed by the JV girls at 5:45 p.m.