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Littleton looks to step up game
  
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By Louis Zoldy
Not much went well for the 2007-08 Littleton High School girls basketball team.
Dominated by youth and inexperience, the Lions featured only two seniors with lots of sophomores in tow. Combined with a lack of height in the front court and experience at the guard position — a spot at which the Continental Conference’s elite were ripe with talent — Littleton suffered through long losing streaks en route to a tough 5-17 finish.
“Everything that could go wrong my first year did go wrong,” head coach Tom Bradbury said.
Now in his second season, Bradbury sees vast improvement among his Lions and confidence is growing that this winter will see Littleton punch a ticket to the postseason dance.
“We’re looking to be the most improved team in our league this year,” Bradbury said. “We don’t want to be defined per se by the scoreboard or wins and loses, but by how hard we play and how smart we play. I really hope by the time this season is over that other teams unanimously say, ‘look what Littleton did this year.’ I have a real good feeling we’re going to be able to achieve that.”
To do that, Bradbury has three core values he is trying to instill in his team: intensity, team defense and ball control. Bradbury said if Littleton can work to improve in these three areas, the program’s level of competitiveness and overall success will continue to rise.
Further, encouraging players to take part in competitive basketball outside of the high school season also is key. In years past, few if any Littleton players partook of the sport on the club level or attended off-season camps of any kind. That is changing, however. This year, most of the Lions participated in a summer or fall league or camp, getting 40-50 games under their belts.
“It was very important for us to do that, and we’re going to build off that and show the rest of the teams that we’re going to be good competition,” senior Stephanie James said. “Our goal is to be around .500 this year. To do that, we have to be strong mentally. We can’t be as nervous as we were last year, and I think the extra time has helped.”
James is one of four seniors this season and was named captain during the off-season. A 6-foot, 1-inch forward, James led Littleton in scoring and rebounding a year ago, averaging 6 points and 7 boards per night.
Bradbury touted James for her good hands and passing ability, and said she is not only a good post, but can pop out and take the 10- to 15-foot jumper.
Also a good defender, finishing among the top 10 in terms of shot-blocking, James is one Lion the coach expects to make leaps and bounds in her performance this winter.
Another returning starter expected to have an impact is senior Tanecia Quillen. Quillen is a guard-forward who can shoot and slash to the basket and is best known for hitting the game-winner in a 36-33 upset victory at Cherokee Trail last December. Bradbury is hoping for a full year out of Quillen, who missed a lot of time last season with mononucleosis.
Rounding out the seniors will be forward Alyssa Orndorff, who is expected to provide a strong presence in the paint, and reserve guard Kate Eubank.
Perhaps Littleton’s most prolific player, junior forward Maddie Craver comes into the 2008-09 season with high expectations. Craver started as a sophomore and led the team with 7 points per game while grabbing a respectable 5 rebounds per night. This year, Bradbury sees Craver stepping up her game.
“We expect her to be our main offensive weapon. It will be important for us to find her the ball,” the coach said.
Craver is looking forward to an expanded role this season, but knows the challenges that lay ahead.
“We have to understand that going against teams that play year-round like Highlands Ranch and ThunderRidge [means we have] a lot to make up for,” she said. “But I think we’re going to do a lot better than last year because we’re more competitive and aggressive, which is important because we’ll need to outwork teams.”
Others in the junior class are Chelsie Flagg, who returns as the starting point guard; and Molly Fonterra, a guard-forward who is a solid outside shooter. Littleton also has two sophomores on varsity with guard Sam Britz and forward Ashley Gruber.
The Lions opened play Dec. 2 versus Thornton and begin conference action Jan. 16, 2009 versus Rangeview.
Littleton is determined to not be the doormat of the league this season.
“We do not want another last year,” Craver said. “We’re better than that, and we want to leave everything out there. We don’t want to feel ashamed when we leave the court.”
Dominated by youth and inexperience, the Lions featured only two seniors with lots of sophomores in tow. Combined with a lack of height in the front court and experience at the guard position — a spot at which the Continental Conference’s elite were ripe with talent — Littleton suffered through long losing streaks en route to a tough 5-17 finish.
“Everything that could go wrong my first year did go wrong,” head coach Tom Bradbury said.
Now in his second season, Bradbury sees vast improvement among his Lions and confidence is growing that this winter will see Littleton punch a ticket to the postseason dance.
“We’re looking to be the most improved team in our league this year,” Bradbury said. “We don’t want to be defined per se by the scoreboard or wins and loses, but by how hard we play and how smart we play. I really hope by the time this season is over that other teams unanimously say, ‘look what Littleton did this year.’ I have a real good feeling we’re going to be able to achieve that.”
To do that, Bradbury has three core values he is trying to instill in his team: intensity, team defense and ball control. Bradbury said if Littleton can work to improve in these three areas, the program’s level of competitiveness and overall success will continue to rise.
Further, encouraging players to take part in competitive basketball outside of the high school season also is key. In years past, few if any Littleton players partook of the sport on the club level or attended off-season camps of any kind. That is changing, however. This year, most of the Lions participated in a summer or fall league or camp, getting 40-50 games under their belts.
“It was very important for us to do that, and we’re going to build off that and show the rest of the teams that we’re going to be good competition,” senior Stephanie James said. “Our goal is to be around .500 this year. To do that, we have to be strong mentally. We can’t be as nervous as we were last year, and I think the extra time has helped.”
James is one of four seniors this season and was named captain during the off-season. A 6-foot, 1-inch forward, James led Littleton in scoring and rebounding a year ago, averaging 6 points and 7 boards per night.
Bradbury touted James for her good hands and passing ability, and said she is not only a good post, but can pop out and take the 10- to 15-foot jumper.
Also a good defender, finishing among the top 10 in terms of shot-blocking, James is one Lion the coach expects to make leaps and bounds in her performance this winter.
Another returning starter expected to have an impact is senior Tanecia Quillen. Quillen is a guard-forward who can shoot and slash to the basket and is best known for hitting the game-winner in a 36-33 upset victory at Cherokee Trail last December. Bradbury is hoping for a full year out of Quillen, who missed a lot of time last season with mononucleosis.
Rounding out the seniors will be forward Alyssa Orndorff, who is expected to provide a strong presence in the paint, and reserve guard Kate Eubank.
Perhaps Littleton’s most prolific player, junior forward Maddie Craver comes into the 2008-09 season with high expectations. Craver started as a sophomore and led the team with 7 points per game while grabbing a respectable 5 rebounds per night. This year, Bradbury sees Craver stepping up her game.
“We expect her to be our main offensive weapon. It will be important for us to find her the ball,” the coach said.
Craver is looking forward to an expanded role this season, but knows the challenges that lay ahead.
“We have to understand that going against teams that play year-round like Highlands Ranch and ThunderRidge [means we have] a lot to make up for,” she said. “But I think we’re going to do a lot better than last year because we’re more competitive and aggressive, which is important because we’ll need to outwork teams.”
Others in the junior class are Chelsie Flagg, who returns as the starting point guard; and Molly Fonterra, a guard-forward who is a solid outside shooter. Littleton also has two sophomores on varsity with guard Sam Britz and forward Ashley Gruber.
The Lions opened play Dec. 2 versus Thornton and begin conference action Jan. 16, 2009 versus Rangeview.
Littleton is determined to not be the doormat of the league this season.
“We do not want another last year,” Craver said. “We’re better than that, and we want to leave everything out there. We don’t want to feel ashamed when we leave the court.”
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