COMING OFF A 4-26 CAMPAIGN THE NORTHWEST COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM IS TWO YEARS REMOVED FROM A PLAYOFF BERTH. CAMDEN LEVETT ENTERS HIS SECOND SEASON AT THE HELM OF THE PROGRAM AND IS LOOKING TO TURN THEM BACK TO POSTSEASON CONTENDERS. IMPROVEMENT OF THIS TEAM ALL STARTS WITH THE RETURNING PLAYERS. THIS TEAM IS LED BY SIX SOPHOMORES AND IT WILL BE UP TO THEM TO HELP SET THE TONE. COACH LEVETT TALKS ABOUT THE SOPHOMORE LEADERSHIP AND WHAT THOSE WOMEN BRING TO THE TABLE.
“WHEN YOU’RE A NEW COACH, BUILDING GIRLS PHILOSOPHIES AND STUFF HERE, WHEN YOU HAVE RETURNERS LIKE THAT KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU AS A COACH IT HELPS OUT. OUR SOPHOMORE LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN FANTASTIC THIS YEAR. EVERYONE IS FITTING INTO THEIR ROLES. WE KNOW EVERYONE IN HERE IS HERE FOR A REASON. THEY CAN HELP US WIN BASKETBALL GAMES AND BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH THEY’VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF THAT SO FAR.”
AS WITH ANY SPORT COMMUNICATION WILL BE KEY. THIS IS A DIVERSE GROUP OF GIRLS THAT FEATURES PLAYERS FROM POWELL, TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND BRAZIL. COACH LEVITT ON EASING THEM INTO THE OFFENSIVE SYSTEM.
“YOU KNOW WE’VE GOT TO GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE. OFFENSIVELY WE’RE KEEPING IT REAL SIMPLE SO FAR. WE’RE JUST WORKING ON OUR TIMING AND OUR SPACING, RUNNING THE FLOOR HARD, DOING YOUR JOB. SO WE HAVEN’T PUT IN A LOT OF SETS YET. SCRIMMAGES WE’RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE THEM BASKETBALL PLAYERS. MAKE THE RIGHT READ, FIND THE OPEN MAN, HIT THE OPEN SHOT. THAT’S WHAT WE’VE FOCUSED ON SO FAR AND YOU KNOW WE’VE PLAYED PRETTY WELL AT TIMES.”
THE LADY TRAPPERS HAVE COMPETED IN SEVEN SCRIMMAGE GAMES THUS FAR. WITH JUST A FEW WEEKS TO GO TILL THE REGULAR SEASON COACH LEVETT ADDS WHAT THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE AT PRACTICE GOING FORWARD.
“VALUING THE BASKETBALL. CAN’T TURN IT OVER. WE’VE GOT TO GET A SHOT EVERY TRIP, GREAT LOOK, THAT’S HOW YOU PUT POINTS ON THE BOARD. SO VALUING THE BASKETBALL IS WHAT WE’RE GOING TO FOCUS ON. DEFENSIVELY WE NEED TO FORCE A TOUGH SHOT AND MAKE SURE WE GET THEM BOXED OUT AND REBOUND. YOU DON’T WANT TO PLAY A MINUTE OF DEFENSE EVERY POSSESSION.”
AND IF THIS YEARS TEAM IS GOING TO MAKE ANY NOISE IT MUST BE A COLLECTIVE TEAM EFFORT.
“WE NEED TO PLAY A PHYSICAL BRAND OF BASKETBALL. WE’VE GOT SOME TOUGH PLAYERS IN HERE, BUT AGAIN WE’VE GOT TO PLAY PHYSICAL, GOT TO BE WILLING TO STEP UP TAKE A CHARGE, THAT’S A MOMENTUM PLAY. GOT TO BE WILLING TO BOX SOMEBODY OUT, GET A BIG REBOUND LATE IN THE GAME. SO IF WE CAN PLAY PHYSICAL AND I THINK I’VE GOT 16 GIRLS THAT CAN FIT THE BILL THERE. GET THEM ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAYING STRONG.”
THE NORTHWEST COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM GETS REGULAR SEASON PLAY UNDERWAY NOVEMBER 7TH AND 8TH WHEN THEY HIT THE ROAD FOR WILLISTON NORTH DAKOTA AND GLENDIVE MONT. THE LADY TRAPPERS ARE AT HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN POWELL NOVEMBER 13TH WHEN THEY HOST ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE JV.
