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It's easy to tell when the three-guard lineup of Fremont High School's girls basketball team is working on all cylinders—No. 24 is putting the ball in the basket from all over the court; No. 32 is harassing opposing ball handlers with her quick hands and feet; and No. 11 is dribbling through opposing defenses and setting up teammates for easy baskets.
Oh, and coach John Wells has a big smile on his face.
The coach was smiling after both of Fremont's games last week. The guard trio of seniors Shalainie Manuel and Jessica Moore and freshman Carol Hoang provided three big reasons the Firebirds defeated Santa Clara 44-39 and Los Altos 46-42.
Manuel led the offense with 31 points, including five three-pointers, during the two games. She had 16 at home against Santa Clara and 15 at Los Altos.
Moore, who Wells calls a "fabulous defensive player," helped preserve the win against Los Altos. She converted a steal into two free throws late in the fourth quarter, after Los Altos had trimmed a nine-point Fremont lead to two.
Hoang, a ninth-grader with the calm demeanor of an experienced senior, made several assists in each game. She scored six points against Santa Clara and made two key foul shots against Los Altos.
"All three guards are fast," Wells said. "When they are playing well at the same time it really picks up the rest of the team."
Wells praised the rebounding of senior post players Aneta Pariaszevski and Erin Sturm and freshman Alison Bushnell, as well as the defensive work of Jessica Svoboda.
The Firebirds (5-3) begin the week tied for third place with Los Altos in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League's El Camino Division, two games behind first-place Mountain View. Santa Clara (6-3) is second. Fremont visits Mountain View Feb. 11, 7 p.m., and hosts Cupertino on Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.
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