Willow Glen Resident
Sports
By Dick Sparrer
Don't be surprised if the players on the Willow Glen girls basketball team spend more time working on their game and less time watching the scoreboard this season. As far as head coach Amy Gannon is concerned, performance will be the key for her young Rams this winter.
"Throughout the summer one simple goal was set: Don't think about the scoreboard; instead, focus on how we can all improve," said Gannon.
The Rams lost half of last year's team to graduation, and they're using the preseason to get acquainted before entering the rugged days ahead in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
"Because we have such a new team, it's important for the girls to be comfortable with each other on and off the court," said Gannon. "We've focused on little things and tried not to let our mistakes, or our losses, influence our overall game."
The Rams have had their share of losses in the preseason. Willow Glen's only win in the first nine games was a 52-41 victory over Cupertino. In their most recent game, the Rams lost 77-44 to Evergreen Valley.
Leading the Willow Glen effort this winter is all-league returner Hayley Tharp, a 5-foot-5 junior guard. Tharp was the Santa Teresa Division's Sophomore of the Year last season.
Joining her on the list of returners for the Rams are seniors Stephanie Serna (5-foot-10 center), Nadia Conroy (5-foot-4 forward) and Samantha Tsukiji (5-foot-4 point guard) and junior Brittany O'Brien (5-foot-1 point guard).
Newcomers who should figure to see plenty of action with the varsity are junior forward Daisy Quintero (5-foot-8) and sophomore forward Meghan Wilson (5-foot-9). Sophomores Odette Overton (5-foot-4 guard) and Anna Russo (5-foot-6 forward) and freshman Alyssa O'Brien (5-foot-3 guard) "will also contribute minutes to help the Rams," said Gannon, in her sixth season as the Willow Glen head coach.
The Rams open the Santa Teresa Division season this week. They were to host Oak Grove on Tuesday and will head to Live Oak on Jan. 4 and Silver Creek on Jan. 9 for a couple of 7 p.m. games. Willow Glen was 5-9 in the division last season and 13-13 overall.
Tharp had the hot hand and Quintero joined her in double digits, but the Rams ran into a powerhouse when they played host to Evergreen Valley on Dec. 22. The Cougars won by 33 points to improve to 9-2 in the preseason.
Tharp pitched in four three-pointers to go with a field goal to lead the Rams with 14 points in the loss. Quintero supported with 10 points on five field goals.
Tsukiji had a three among her three field goals to finish with seven points and A. O'Brien added a three. Serna hit four points and Wilson, Overton and B. O'Brien had two each.
The Rams were close after a period, trailing just 18-13, but the Cougars rolled over the Rams 23-10 in the second and 17-9 in the third to take a commanding lead.
Boys lose two
In boys recent action, Willow Glen dropped two games to close out the preseason with an 8-4 record.
The Rams lost a 46-45 heartbreaker to Cupertino after falling 60-41 to Los Gatos, a team they had beaten 56-47 earlier in the year.
It's been an impressive preseason for the Rams. They opened the year by winning two of three games to take the consolation championship at the Westmont Invitational, then backed that up with three straight victories to take the championship in the Los Gatos Lions Club Wildcat Shootout.
Willow Glen won two of three games to finish third in the Panther Invitational at Prospect, then knocked off Gunderson 62-33 in a non-league game.
But the Rams then lost two straight to Gatos and Cupertino and now head into the Santa Teresa Division campaign with the 8-4 season record.
Willow Glen opens league play at Sobrato on Jan. 3, 7 p.m., before returning to Morgan Hill to face Live Oak on Jan. 5, 7:30 p.m. The Rams visit Silver Creek on Jan. 9, 7 p.m.
Senior Steven Skavdahl pumped in 15 points, including a pair of threes, but the Rams lost a tough one-point decision to Cupertino last week. The Pioneers improved to 12-2 with the win.
Anthony Rodriguez tossed in four buckets, including a three, to wind up with nine points for the Rams, and Kyle Schroeder had a three among his eight points. Billy Hahn also had eight points and Brian Chunn had a three among his five points.
The Rams let a 21-8 first-quarter lead slip away as the Pioneers outscored them in each of the last three periods.
Skavdahl had pitching in 15 points, including a three, in the loss to Los Gatos. Freshman Jimmy Renneke had a three among his eight points and Schroeder also had eight points. Rodriguez and Hahn added four points apiece and Daniel O'Shaughnessy hit two.
