Oak Harbor High School girls basketball coach Jonathan Atkins expects his team to be much more competitive this season.
The Wildcats were winless last season but return seven letter winners to form a foundation for a rebound season.
The coaching staff is “excited about this team,” Atkins said.
“The girls are starting to understand the offense in my second year and are starting to play with more instinct,” Atkins said. “Our big goal this year is not to act like robots on the court and be able to read what the defense gives us. We had a really successful summer and camp and we are looking to build on that.”
Of the seven returnees, only two are seniors: 5-10 forward Hayley Lundstrom and 5-9 forward Sierra Southwick, this year’s team captains.
Atkins praised the pair for doing “a great job bringing the team together” and helping the Wildcats work on developing a strong chemistry.
Chemistry issues plagued Oak Harbor last winter, and as a first-year coach, Atkins said, “A lot of that was on me.”
“This summer and this season I have made a conscious effort to build our team chemistry on and off the field,” he said, noting he received “great ideas” on team bonding from new C-team coach Laura Greene.
Other returning letter winners are juniors Jinai Guzman (5-5 guard), Deja Bunch (5-7 guard) and AnnaBelle Whitefoot (5-7 forward) and sophomores Julie Jansen (6-0 center) and Bryn Langrock (5-5 guard).
Key newcomers, according to Atkins, are juniors Montana Koslowski (5-7 guard), Taylor Deconzo (5-4 guard) and Janae Payne (5-7 forward) and sophomores Rahsanna Graham (5-1 guard) and Lydia Peplinski (5-7 guard).
The group’s strength, Atkins said, is shooting; it’s weakness is handling pressure.
Atkins called the Wesco 3A “one of the toughest leagues in the state.”
To be successful, the Wildcats will need to “focus on the things we can control each game and prepare each week for a tough game.”
The Wildcats will have a busy start, playing seven games in the first two weeks.
Oak Harbor travels to Mariner at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, then hosts Shorecrest at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5.
