NEW COACH PUTS SPARK IN GIRLS VARSITY\Saugus High basketball team gets into groove of 'focused fun'.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Special to the Daily News

The Saugus High School girls basketball team is practicing, but there's something different.

It's louder in the gymnasium. The girls are making whooping sounds. One girl is barking like a dog.

The players are still running the necessary drills, but the atmosphere is lighter than it was earlier in the season.

It's the first indication that things are different now that Susie Sparks has taken over as coach. She replaced Laurie Roland, who quit a few weeks ago to have her first child.

Sparks, who played at The Master's College from 1987 to 1991, has been in the program as a junior varsity coach for four years and was Roland's choice to take over for her.

"From the start, we clicked," Roland said. "We had the same goals and worked well together. She's been part of the building of the program the years I've been coaching there. . . . The idea of her taking over the program, it's not a big transition, not traumatic to the girls."

It certainly didn't appear anyone was suffering any trauma. Even point guard Wendy Gussner, who is as businesslike as any player, was all smiles as she ran a shooting and blocking drill.

"I bring a lot more positive enthusiasm," Sparks, 26, said during a recent practice. "They seem to be smiling a lot more and having fun. I call it focused fun. As long as you're focused on the task at hand, you can have fun."

Since taking over on an interim basis for the remainder of the season, Sparks had a 3-1 record going into Tuesday's Foothill League game at Canyon. That includes a one-sided victory over Burroughs (Burbank) that has helped position the Centurions to tie for second place. The one loss was to league-champion Hart, which led by just five points after the first half.

Another sign that this coach has provided a spark is the team's seemingly sudden aggressiveness and newfound optimism. Sparks said she encourages an up-tempo offense, and the players are responding with more and quicker shots.

"With the other coach, I was timid to shoot, but she tells me to drive, and if you miss a shot to keep trying," junior Liz Grey said of Sparks.

Things haven't been all fun. Because Sparks was the junior varsity coach before taking over the varsity, she retains both roles and has had to juggle her time. It helps that the teams spend part of the practice time together, and during the games, she focuses her full attention on the team playing.

"It's overwhelming emotionally," she admitted. "It's hard to give full attention to both teams. I don't want the JV to feel like I'm pulling away from them, and I don't want the varsity to feel like I'm riding out the season. I'm definitely not riding out the season."

She's also had to find a way to make do without center Christine Sifferman, who suffered back spasms in the previous game and was not expected back for Tuesday's game. Sparks said she planned to put Amy Hickman and Jessica Epperson in the middle, with Grey ready to come in. Also, the guards will have to hustle back on defense more than they already do.

Sparks is confident it will work out.

"Communication's the key. In order to earn respect, you've got to give respect," she said. "Treat them all equally and fairly. Encourage them up. Remain as positive as you can. It sounds kind of cheesy."

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Photo (1) Saugus High coach Susie Sparks talks with her team. She's been coaching both girls basketball teams since Lori Roland went on maternity leave. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News (2) Sparks watches intently as her players warm up during a recent practice. Varsity team members say they are enjoying their new coach.