2003 PREVIEW: GIRLS' BASKETBALL: SERVING UP MORE SUCCESS LITTLEROCK GIRLS LOOK TO BUILD ON VOLLEYBALL'S WINNING WAYS.Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer LITTLEROCK - In the program's recent history, the Littlerock High girls' basketball team has been searching for ways to build confidence. This season, the Lobos need not look far. A perennially down program until last season, Littlerock is coming off one of its most successful seasons in school history. Littlerock (15-10, 4-6) finished fourth in the Golden League, earned a wild-card playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. berth and made it to the first round of the Southern Section Div. I-AA playoffs, where it lost to eventual semifinalist Royal of Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. . Littlerock's success last season, combined with the nucleus of this year's team that was part of a league volleyball volleyball, outdoor or indoor ball and net game played on a level court. An upright net, 3 ft (or 1 m) high, the top of which stands 8 ft (2.43 m) from the ground for men, 7 ft 4 1/8 in (2. championship, and the infusion of new talent from last season's junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. league-championship team, has the Lobos oozing oozing exudation of fluid. with confidence. That has translated into a 4-2 nonleague start. ``That has changed their mindset mind·set or mind-set n. 1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations. 2. An inclination or a habit. ,'' second-year coach John Konrad said of the effect the volleyball team's championship has had on the basketball team. ``They know how to win now; they're a lot more confident than they were this time last season, and they should be.'' A strong group of returnees includes senior forward Tia Horner, a 6-footer who played middle blocker on the volleyball team. Horner averaged 17 points, nine rebounds and 2.5 blocks last season before being declared academically ineligible in·el·i·gi·ble adj. 1. Disqualified by law, rule, or provision: ineligible to run for office; ineligible for health benefits. 2. forced her to miss the final four league games and likely a spot on the all-league team. Horner, who has attracted the attention of college scouts, has made significant progress in the classroom, maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average this semester se·mes·ter n. One of two divisions of 15 to 18 weeks each of an academic year. [German, from Latin (cursus) s . Junior guard Dominique Calvin, a standout athlete who excelled at outside hitter on the volleyball team, has the team's quickest feet and probably the quickest hands. She averaged close to nine points and four steals last season and is averaging seven steals this season. Senior guard Tiffany Tiffany, Tiffanie (UK) a semi-longhaired version of the Burmese cat. It has a fine, silky coat in many colors. Bull, the volleyball team's setter setter: see sporting dog. setter Any of three breeds derived from a medieval hunting dog that would set (lie down) when it found birds so that it and the birds could be covered with a net. Setters have long hair on the ears, chest, legs, and tail. , senior forward Kilisitina Safuta and junior forward Christina Horner (Tia's sister) have significant varsity experience. Christina Horner (6-0), an all-league honorable mention last season who also played on the volleyball team, has been sidelined with a viral infection viral infection, n an infection by a pathogenic virus. A virus acts on the cell nucleus, taking over the genetic material within the nucleus and replicating itself. but is expected to be fully recovered by the time league play begins in early January. Senior forward Kristina Okerlund (5-10) and junior guard Janeya Griffin also have varsity experience, but Okerlund's play was limited last season due to a knee injury. Key additions from the junior varsity include junior guard Brandiss Lewis, last season's team MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. , junior forward Lashanna Bridgeforth, a sprinter on the track team, and junior guard Donnika Monroe, who emerged as a key player on the team in the summer at the Buena tournament in Ventura. Other players to watch include senior forward Charnae Hester, junior forward Elizabeth McCoy and sophomore center Samantha Bull (Tiffany's sister). Samantha Bull (6-2) will start the season on the junior varsity because of Littlerock's depth at forward and center but will likely move up to the varsity by the end of the season, Konrad said. With the Littlerock campus still enjoying the volleyball team's success, the Lobos go into the season eager to add to their collection of trophies with what they hope will be their first girls' basketball title in school history. ``Last year our goal was to gain respect in our league and for our league,'' said Konrad, noting that five of the league's six teams made the playoffs last season. ``Now that we have respect in our league, our goal is to compete and build on the success we've had in basketball (last season) and in volleyball.'' Gideon Rubin (818) 713-3607 gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com AT A GLANCE Team: Littlerock girls' basketball Coach: John Konrad, second year 2002-03: 15-10, 4-6 (fourth place in Golden League) Playoffs: Lost in first round of Div. I-AA Top returnees: F Tia Horner, Sr.; G Dominique Calvin, Jr.; G Tiffany Bull, Sr.; F Kilisitina Safuta, Sr.; F Christina Horner, Sr.; F Kristina Okerlund, Sr.; G Janeya Griffin, Jr. Top newcomers: G Brandiss Lewis, Jr.; F Lashanna Bridgeforth, Jr.; G Donnika Monroe, Jr. CAPTION(S): box Box: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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