By Moses Leos III
Having graduated nine seniors last year, Lehman Lady Lobo head basketball coach Jamie Coy understands how young her team will be in 2015.
The 2015 Lehman girls basketball team only returns three players from last season.
Despite the youth, Coy said the team’s goal continues to be progression. It’s something she believes could help her team move up in the ranks in District 14-6A.
“We have the potential to move up. It’s just opening that door,” Coy said. “If we get in there, and stick to our game plan, run our offense and don’t let people dictate what we do, we’ll be okay.”
Building up the younger players will be one of Coy’s tasks this season. With only three returning players, Coy said the remainder will be new to the varsity game. She said the team is currently working on the basics, and making sure they have a “strong foundation to where all we can do is go up from here.”
Leading that youth movement will be junior Crystal Montoya, who returns from last year’s team. Coy said Montoya, who has the most varsity experience on the team, has stepped into the leadership role early on during the preseason.
It’s due in part to Montoya’s participation and work ethic she displayed over the summer. Coy said Montoya has “put in that extra work” and that she’s improved her offensive and defensive skills. That extends to increasing her shooting range.
“She’s a leader on the floor. She’s a team player,” Coy said. “She looks to get the team involved. She’s a good kid and does a good job in making sure the program is running in the right direction.”
Joining Montoya will be senior Ashlynne Hardaway, junior Daisy Carrizales, and senior Natalia Barajas. Hardaway and Carrizales, however, have battled injuries during the preseason.
While Hardaway will return to action next week, Carrizales will be out until December.
For Coy, a positive is the incoming players that join the Lobo team. One of those is Meagan Zuniga, who moved into the district from Del Valle. Coy said Zuniga is short, but can handle the ball effectively. She also said Zuniga is “smart and can see the floor.”
Coy will also have the services of her daughter, 5-foot, 10-inch freshman Makayla Coy, who she said has played basketball “for a while” and is aggressive.
An adherence to fitness and “being in shape” is what Coy has focused on during the offseason. Previously, Coty said she didn’t take extra time during the athletic period to “just run.”
Thus far in 2015, Coy said the team has conducted several drills that have focus on running.
She said the reasoning stems from their up-tempo style they plan to use this season.
“We’re not big in size, except for the freshmen,” Coy said. “So we have to be able to be in condition to play strong defense, but also play a transition type game. We look to pressure and move the ball up and down.”
Improved chemistry has also played a factor.
“The chemistry this year is the best it’s been in a while,” Coy said. “If we keep on with that positive chemistry and attitude, it will help us.”