Basketball preview: New season, new twists

The 6-foot-1 junior possesses the combination of athleticism, length, versatility and overall sense for basketball to be a real impact player.

Two years ago, Yelm girls basketball coach Russ Riches asked the freshman Maldonado to provide a scoring spark for the Tornados off the bench. Maldonado did just that – averaging nearly 10 points a contest and earning second-team all-Narrows League 3A honors despite being a reserve.

Maldonado’s role shifted last season. The sophomore was called upon to be the team’s low-post presence at both ends of the court. Again, she came through – averaging 12 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game en route to being selected first-team all-league.

Her responsibilities this season have once again been altered.

Sure, scoring and rebounding will remain her top priorities. But she also has to show she can

do the other things – things that don’t show up in statistics – to become a complete player.

“Her biggest change is the mental maturity,” Riches said. “She’s taken on that role of leader, and just in the first few games of the season, you can see she is making better decisions on the court. That’s really critical for us as a team.”

It’s one thing to dominate the stat sheet. It’s more difficult to do that while making everyone around you better. Not only does Maldonado have the tools, she has the mindset to do just that.

“I’m not the type of player that wants the offense only going through her,” said Maldonado, who scored a game-high 15 points in an early season 55-54 nonleague victory over South Kitsap, one of the Narrows 4A League favorites.

“I want all five players on the court to be involved. We’re going to accomplish more as a team when we do that.”

With Maldonado drawing most of the attention from opposing defenses, often in the form of double teams, her willingness to distribute the ball when she’s not open could go far in determining how successful the Tornados are this season in the competitive Narrows 3A.

“She understands situations,” Riches said. “She knows when to attack the basket or when to make a pass. She understands when to get the people around her involved. Athletically, she’s just a tough matchup for teams. We have sets where she handles the ball. She can post up smaller players with her size and drive by bigger players with her quickness. But it’s all the other aspects of her game that make her a special talent.”

OFFSEASON DEVELOPMENT

After playing with her Yelm teammates in a trio of tournaments in June, Maldonado spent the remainder of the summer playing for the Columbia Cascades – an AAU team coached by Al Aldridge, Prairie High School’s long-time coach who has led the Vancouver school to five state championships.

On a roster comprised of some of the best players in Washington and Oregon, Maldonado played against some of the West Coast’s top talent in some too tournaments, including the prestigious Oregon City Tournament, as well as tournaments in Seattle and San Diego.

“It’s a different style of basketball playing against the teams we play against,” Maldonado said. “It was much more physical. It’s tough, but it’s going to make you a better basketball player.”

With her focus back on Yelm, Maldonado hopes her summer of competing against such players as 6-foot-5 Tess Picknell, a Stanford commit from South Medford (Ore.) High pays off.

“I’m not thinking about anything else except having a successful season this year,” Maldonado said. “We’ve set goals. We want to finish in the top two in league then move on and do well at districts and make state. We just want to take it step-by-step. I think it’s definitely something we are capable of doing.”

Yelm failed last season to advance to the state tournament for the first time in three years, finishing 11-9 overall and 5-5 in league.

But with Maldonado back on court for another season, that could end up being just a one-year hiatus.

GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW

4A NARROWS CONFERENCE

CRYSTAL BALL*

1. South Kitsap (20-6)

2. Bellarmine Prep (22-7)

3. Central Kitsap (11-9)

4. Mount Tahoma (20-6)

5. Olympia (11-12)

6. Gig Harbor (10-10)

7. Stadium (4-15)

8. Shelton (0-20)

*2010-11 records

STARTING FIVE

F Kaitlynn Bunger, 5-7, sr., Mount Tahoma You want scoring in a variety of ways? That’s the game for Bunger, a slasher who can get hot.

G Nyzhe Primas, 5-8, sr., Bellarmine Prep A second-team Narrows 4A player, she is the Lions’ key for a fourth league title in a row.

G Krista Stabler, 5-6, sr., Central Kitsap Consummate leader at point guard who hits big buckets when the game is on the line.

G Jackie Steiger, 5-8, sr., South Kitsap Arguably the league’s best all-around threat; can shoot and score inside and outside.

F Taylor Sunkel, 5-10, sr., South Kitsap A penetrating force from the wing, she demands a double-team from opponents.

FASTBREAK

A new youth movement is underway at Olympia with four ninth graders on the varsity squad, led by point guard Jona Spiller, who is a strong, stout ballhandler with scoring capability. She and classmate Laura Snodgrass are starters, but it will be up to the Bears’ two seniors – Alex Bassett and Molly Spiller – to make sure the team stays on course. … Aaron Leth is Shelton’s third coach in as many seasons, and after the Highclimbers went winless last season, he is also looking to the future. He has 15 sophomores in the program, but a pair of three-year seniors – forward Clara Robbins and point guard Jordanne Crumpols – are expected to lead by example. … South Kitsap gets the slight favorite’s nod primarily based on Jackie Steiger and Taylor Sunkel, two returning all-Narrows 4A performers. Steiger moves over to point guard as a replacement for Kelsey Callaghan, who graduated. … What a run for Bellarmine Prep, which has gone 56-2 over the past four seasons in league. But the Lions graduated three college-bound seniors, and Nyzhe Primas (knee) is expected to return to form after season-ending surgery in 2010. … No team relies on one player more than Central Kitsap does with Krista Stabler, who aggressively attacks the basket. One of her top priorities this season is getting post players Gwen Ryno and Carly Hoisington involved. … Fast and furious? That is Mount Tahoma in a nutshell, and Kaitlynn Bunger will need to be heavily involved for the Thunderbirds to succeed. … Five seniors graduated at Gig Harbor last season, leaving only Leah Davis as a returning starter. She moves to point guard, and has emerging center Naphtali Ward to help out. … Stadium, with six wins total the past three seasons, has a new coach in alum Mark Stewart. Only one senior starts (Luisa Wilmerstaedt), and his best playmaker is Angela Yun, a sophomore point guard.

3A NARROWS LEAGUE

CRYSTAL BALL*

1. Wilson (17-9)

2. Timberline (23-2)

3. Yelm (11-9)

4. Capital (14-10)

5. Foss (0-20)

6. Lincoln (9-11)

*2010-11 records

STARTING FIVE

G Kaysha Fox, 5-7, jr., Wilson Expect point guard to lead young, but experienced, Rams to postseason.

F Anushka Maldonado, 6-0, jr., Yelm Broke through last winter (11.6 ppg, 9.5 rpg), could be even better this season.

F Tia Briggs, 6-1, jr., Wilson Contributes offensively (10.9 ppg) and defensively (9 rpg).

G Sasha Weber, 6-0, sr., Timberline New Mexico State-bound guard is one of the state’s best players, athletes

G Kendel Wilkerson, 5-10, sr., Capital Cougars’ second-leading scorer (11.2 ppg) returns to lead team.

FASTBREAK

Perhaps no team in the state has as much potential as Wilson. The Rams return five starters and all are underclassmen. If they can work together, the Rams can make a very deep postseason run. Depth, defense and, especially this season, experience are strengths for Wilson. Starters Tia Briggs, Kaysha Fox, Bethany Montgomery, Nine Caldwell and Janessa Flynn will be joined by newcomers Valery Vangen, a 6-foot-4 junior; Valentina Sakica, a foreign exchange student with a nice outside shot; and freshman forward Dejah Rogers. … Timberline suffered a blow when Cymone Martin, a first-team all-league player, suffered a knee injury that will keep her out for most of the season. Martin might be healthy enough to return for the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Blazers have Sasha Weber, whose gaudy stats last season included 14.2 points, 4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3 steals per game. Weber is joined by fellow returning starter Kiera Allen. … Capital graduated six seniors, including three of its top four scorers, its top three rebounders, its best defensive player and its point guard. Rebuilding year, right? Well, if the Cougars can come together quickly, they should be able to make some noise and challenge Wilson and Timberline for the top spots in the league. Kendel Wilkerson is the team’s lone returning full-time starter, while forward Hollianne Wieland, an adept rebounder, was a part-time starter. Guard Cierra Pettit and forwards Sloan Jackowich and Drew Rothengass will be relied on, too. … If you’re looking for a surprise team that could rise up and make an unexpected playoff run, Yelm fits the profile. The Tornados have one of the top posts in the South Sound in Anushka Maldonado, a first-team all-league pick, and guards Jaynani Cababat and Jessica Amundsen can hang with the best of the Narrows League 3A. Guard McKenzie DeVore and wing McKaiela Tyler make the move to varsity from the JV squad, which went 20-0 last season. … Foss welcomes back starter Ashleigh Beam, a senior post, and guard Jasmine Brooks, who lettered as a freshman and sophomore before missing her junior season due to injury. Junior guard Sierra Brooks will make an impact on the court for the Falcons. … Lincoln has gotten off to a rough start this season, losing its first three games. Precious Hunkin leads the Abes in scoring, averaging 9.7 points per game.

2A EVERGREEN CONFERENCE

CRYSTAL BALL *

1. W.F. West (21-8)

2. North Thurston (7-14)

3. River Ridge (24-4)

4. Tumwater (22-5)

5. Black Hills (4-17)

6. Aberdeen (12-11)

7. Centralia (9-11)

*2010-11 records

STARTING FIVE

PG Samira McDonald, 5-9, sr., River Ridge One of the premiere point guards in the state, she missed nearly all of last season with ACL injury. Currently on radar for several NCAA Division I schools.

PG Catie Mets, 5-6, sr., North Thurston She has great floor vision, knows how to find the open teammate and how to score when needed. Now in her third year as the Rams’ starting point guard.

W Necy Wade, 5-9, sr., River Ridge Lightning-fast guard will help set tone for Hawks’ fast-paced offense under new head coach Jackie Robinson. Returning first-team all-EvCo player averaged 11.5 ppg last season.

F Uriah Thomas, 6-0, sr., W.F. West The Bearcats’ do-it-all forward is a big presence inside, but she can also step out and shoot the mid-range shot.

C Jamika Parker, 6-3, jr., W.F. West Currently ranked a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Parker’s size poses problems for opposing teams. Led the area in blocked shots last season.

FASTBREAK

A lot of W.F. West’s offense will go through a frontline of three players who stand 6 feet or taller – Jamika Parker (6-3), Uriah Thomas (6-0) and Katie Hankins (6-0). … North Thurston returns the majority of its roster from last year’s team. New Timberline coach Mike Harn, a 1987 graduate, will install an up-tempo offense to take advatage of the power at the guard spot. “I think that’s a strength for us right now,” Harn said. Catie Mets, a returning all-league point guard, leads a senior-laden group. Elyssa Quichocho has scored 36 points in the Rams’ first two games. … The Jackie Robinson era begins at River Ridge. “This will be a year of learning and getting to know each other,” the new coach said. Robinson is a former Evergreen men’s basketball player who also played professionally in Europe and spent the past few seasons as an assistant at Timberline. The Hawks have four players with significant varsity experience – Necy Wade, Kyahri Adams (5.8 ppg), Rebecca Stevenson (6.3 ppg) and senior point guard Samira McDonald. … Haley VandenHazel is Tumwater’s only returning starter, but she is a big force inside. The Northwest Christian University signee averaged 10 rebounds and three blocks per game last season. Coach Dave Littleton says a lot of his players are multi-sport athletes, and the key is transitioning them into basketball players. “This year’s team possesses good athleticism, which provides a promising outlook of things to come,” he said. … Black Hills coach Robin Johnson says her team improved vastly during the offseason following a 4-16 campaign, and has a strong senior backcourt of Izzy Campbell and Taylor Pottschmidt. “I feel we are capable of doing well this season,” Johnson said. … Centralia needs to find a way to replace 75 percent of its scoring from 2010-11, as Madison Creel (8 ppg) is the Tigers’ lone returning starter. The nine wins last season were the most under fifth-year coach Mark Westley.

1A SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON EVERGREEN DIVISION