BonnerSprings.com

Clay Oakes has a different challenge facing him entering the 2009-2010 basketball season than he did a year ago.

Last year, the Bonner Springs girls basketball coach had question marks all over the court. Losses to graduation, freshmen getting a lot of minutes at key positions and a team that had not had a chance to jell together all combined to make for a season that was a struggle at times.

This season, Oakes is staring at the exact opposite scenario. The Bravettes return a roster filled with experience that goes eight or nine players deep depending on rotations.

“I expect to be in the top four in the league with as good of a chance as anybody else to win it,” Oakes said. “The way we closed out the season last year, along with the awareness and experience we gained over the summer, we should be right there.”

Senior Lynsey Ostman is expected to take over the point guard position and should provide an experienced, steady hand to guide the offense. Some of her scoring may be lost, but Oakes hopes she will make up for that by distributing the ball to open shooters.

“Lynsey starting at point guard gives us something that we had at times last year — control,” Oakes said. “A senior running the team will help us out tremendously. She also is our best defender and will put pressure on opposing ball handlers.”

With Ostman at the point, the Bravettes will look to run a more up-tempo offense — something they tried last year with limited success. They should be able to run more this season because of the improved athleticism in the post. Junior Chelsea Crawford, who took her sophomore season off from basketball, returns and will provide speed to go along with a physical presence.

“Chelsea is a competitor,” Oakes said. “She will give us speed down the court and she will also provide great leadership.”

Sophomore Emily Wilson, who showed flashes of greatness last season, will spell Crawford when she tires. Wilson can cause defenders fits because of her inside-outside style, so defenders expecting a break when Crawford leaves the game may be mistaken.

The up-tempo style will benefit another junior, shooting guard Erica Smith. Smith closed out last year by going on a tear from behind the 3-point arc. She is always out front on fast breaks and can pull up and shoot from anywhere on the floor and she should be one of the Bravettes’ top scoring threats every game.

“I am hoping that she picks up where she left off last year,” Oakes said. “She has free reign to let it fly. I really think our style will suit her game.”

The center position will be made up of a two-player rotation by sophomores Erica Wilson and Erin Marx. Oakes expects them to run about three-minute shifts before being subbed out. This approach is designed to keep them out of foul trouble and allow them to run the court more effectively.

Senior Meg Fowler will play small forward. She came off the bench mostly last season, but when she did she gave full effort. She will be counted on to set picks on offense and to provide a tenacious defensive presence.

“Meg has worked her butt off and played her way into the starting spot,” Oakes said. “She goes to the boards hard and cleans up, but she really works her butt off offensively. She is an asset on defense because she is quick enough to defend a guard and she is big enough to be put on a forward.”

Another player off the bench will be sophomore Yessenia Hernandez. Last year Hernandez started at point guard and struggled at times taking care of the ball. This season she will be utilized as a versatile substitution for both guard spots and is expected to shoot more.

Oakes is expecting his team to play a hard-nosed, physical man-to-man defense this season instead of zone like last year.

He wants it to be his team’s identity and he believes the Bravettes have the talent to do it. He also expects to force more turnovers and commit fewer because of all the ball-handlers on the roster — which was the team’s biggest problem last year.

“We have good team chemistry,” Oakes said. “I feel we are a solid two-deep at every position. We will be tested early at Lansing on Friday night.”

Following the season-opener, the Bravettes will play host to the Metro Prep Invitational with a first-round game against defending Class 5A state champion Bishop Miege.

“We need to do things right from the beginning,” Oakes said. “We need to stay competitive in order to build momentum as the year goes on.”

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