Veteran Casa ?team shooting for NCS season

All signs indicate that another season of competitive basketball is down the road for the Casa Grande Lady Gauchos in 2016-17.

In recent years, the Gauchos have relied on a smothering match-up zone defense and sudden bursts of offense triggered by shots behind the 3-point line. With both outside shooting guards returning and the emergence of a hustling force inside, the Gauchos will once again be an up-tempo team as they gear for their eighth consecutive year in the North Coast Section Division III playoffs.

Dan Sack, now one of the veteran girl’s basketball coaches in the area, has headed the Gaucho program since 2002. “We will be disappointed if the team doesn’t qualify for the section playoffs,” he said. “The North Bay League post season tournament will be more difficult to make because so many of the top teams, including Cardinal Newman, have good players returning.” Newman captured the Division IV state title last season.

Key all purpose forward Joy Jovik will be missing for the first time in four seasons after pacing the Gauchos in all-around hustle on both ends of the floor. Her rebounding and drives toward the hoop will be hard to replace.

Led by Jovik and the return from injury by swing player Cassidy McKinney, the Casa girls finished with a 13-13 record including a spine tingling 45-44 win over second-place Santa Rosa on the Panther floor to open North Bay League play last season.

The Lady Gauchos were awarded an eighth seed in the NCS playoffs, and were beaten by visiting Mt. Eden of Hayward in the first round.

McKinney returns for her final season after sitting out most of the non-league games in 2015 because of a knee injury suffered during a summer league game at Cardinal Newman. McKinney wears a brace to protect that knee, but her flexibility appears to be stable. Eighteen points in a season opening game against Terra Linda was a good indicator.

It will be the fourth year in a varsity uniform for the explosive McKinney who made an early impression with her ability to score against quality opponents as a freshman in the West Coast Jamboree in Dublin. Gaucho opponents shaded her constantly in the latter part of NBL play. She averaged 13.5 points per game last season, and is slated for additional duty as point guard.

On the opposite wing will be junior outside shooting specialist Hannah Sullivan. If given space, Sullivan can light up the scoreboard with shots from behind the arc. When the hot-shooting point maker gets into rhythm, the Gauchos can score in big numbers.

This could be the year for 5-10 junior interior player Mia Cain. Cain plays an aggressive brand of basketball as evidenced by her 10 rebounds in measured minutes against Terra Linda. Cain has shown great promise in spurts for two seasons, but has often been handicapped by foul trouble. Her experience and playing maturity will be counted on by coach Sack. “Mia has to play well for us to compete this year,” noted Sack.

In early season dominating performances against College Park of Sunnyvale and Terra Linda, Sack was able to substitute liberally with all of his bench players getting some valuable time on the floor. Jashan Gill, Haley Hughes and Samantha Schaefer all return for their junior seasons.

“Samantha could be the X-factor on our team,” said Sack, “Right now, she is getting back into basketball shape after volleyball, and she will get a lot of playing time as the season moves ahead. She has been very aggressive, and I like what she brings off the bench right now.”

Juniors Cami Warner and Katherine Silvera are battling for more playing time in the early going. Sophomores Samantha Dedrickson, Shayla Dunker and Jennifer Loyo are also in the mix.

“Dedrickson has been one of our most improved players so far,” said a pleased Sack. “She has done some good things so far.”

First-year player Emma Reese has earned a spot on the varsity roster, and might get some spot time early in the season.

Casa Grande will resume its regular schedule on Monday when the Lady Gauchos host Northgate of Walnut Creek. The annual rivalry game against the Petaluma T-Girls will be across town on Wednesday.

“We are not overlooking anybody, but the December game against San Marin will be a good measure for where we are,” said Sack. “They return every player except one from their Marin County co-championship team from last season. Right now we are a bit behind in execution. Our outside shooting can be a team strength.”

The Lady Gauchos will play in the West Coast Jamboree again this season, and open against a Division V power, Los Angeles CES (Center for Enriched Studies) from the Southern Section on the Dec. 28 at Ygnatio Valley in Concord.