by Malcolm Butler
A head coaching change always comes with a learning curve.
That was the case last year for the Cedar Creek varsity girls basketball program when Katie Hall took the reins from longtime Lady Cougars coach Gene Vandenlangenberg who retired.
Despite the challenges of the transition, the Lady Cougars posted an 18-13 record, tied for the regular season District 2-1A title, and recorded two playoff wins, including a lopsided road victory in the second round against No. 8 seed St. Martin’s Episcopal. Creek lost to eventual state champion Southern Lab in the quarterfinals.
So with one full year under their belt, Hall feels like this season will be even smoother.
“I like to thing this year will be smoother, although we aren’t where I want to be yet,” said Hall. “Last year I had to adjust to the team. I went in with one way of thinking and then realized I needed to adjust to make this work that first year. It morphed into (a multi-year) plan.”
Even her players agree.
“We are all on the same page this year, and it’s easier to see her goals for us,” said senior forward Zoey Venters. “It’s been easier for us to all be on the same page and to understand her terminology. Last year it was harder because of the different coaching styles between Coach Van and Coach Katie. They are both phenomenal coaches, but their coaching styles were so different.”
Venters will be one of the key cogs for the Lady Cougars. After tearing her ACL in March and having surgery in April, the senior is close to being released for full activity. Hall said she expects her to be a full go by the season opener on November 19.
“She is almost fully released,” said Hall. “Last week she came in and told me she was released to do (certain things). She is supposed to go back in two weeks and expects to be fully released. And let me tell you, her motor is still full go.”
The Lady Cougars return the nucleus of last year’s experience, including Venters, fellow senior Mallory Smith, junior Caroline James and sophomores Mary Grace Hawkins and Alivia Lee. They will have to replace their second leading scorer and leading rebounder Leah Sutherland who graduated.
However, Hall feels as though this year’s group will be stronger in a number of areas.
“I think we have a lot of speed and perimeter shooting that will be better,” said Hall. “I expect our basketball IQ to be better. I feel like we are a year further along at each position.”
Creek will also benefit from the addition of juniors Taylor Martinez and Avery Ryan, two transfers from Benton High School.
Martinez is a point guard who will join fellow point guards in James and Hawkins. Hall hopes that having the extra ball handler will help improve on the number of turnovers last season, something that was an Achilles heel for the Lady Cougars.
“My hopes is that we will improve in that area,” said Hall. “I think we will have more mature and better decision makers on the court. Taylor Martinez is part of that. Her court vision is so good. She just has such a good feel for the point guard role.”
Hall said she hopes to be able to push full-court defensive pressure on the opponents this year, offsetting some size challenges.
“We would like to,” said Hall. “We have to get in shape to do it. I think it could be an advantage for us because of our quickness and speed.”
Martinez, whose mother Toni is an assistant coach for the Lady Cougars, said she loves the culture at Cedar Creek within the program.
“This team is such a family environment,” said Martinez. “We are all so close. That’s not something I am used to coming from AAU teams and even my other school. Everyone had their own click. When we are here, we are all here. We are just all a family.
“Coach Katie is always positive and she is always encouraging us. She is our biggest motivator and she always wants us to do good.”
While one of Creek’s strengths should be its ability to put multiple ball handlers on the court at one time, they will have to overcome what could be a lack of size.
“It’s going to come down to who wants it more,” said Venters about the challenges of being undersized. “I think we will come out on top more times than not. We have played so well together this fall so far. This year has been so different. We are playing so together. Our team chemistry has been phenomenal. I know my role. I am just so ready to be back, and I know how I can help our team.”
The Lady Cougars defeated Menard and West Ouachita in scrimmages this past Saturday.
The annual Brickhouse Bash will be held on November 5 and then the Lady Cougars will open the regular season Nov. 19 at Saline. Creek’s home opener is Nov. 21 vs. Calvin.
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