Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
Villa Park’s girls basketball team represented itself well against powerhouse Etiwanda at the Kay Yow Showcase but Spartans coach Brad Willis knew his players weren’t happy with a 20-point loss.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie and togetherness with them so they take it real hard,” Willis said. “They expect a lot of themselves. They put in a lot of work.”
For those comparing scores, Villa Park’s 69-49 loss to Etiwanda — the three-time defending CIF State Open Division champion — was slightly closer than Sage Hill’s 81-57 setback against Etiwanda earlier in the season.
Esperanza coach Jimmy Valverde, whose team plays at Villa Park (17-4, 2-0) on Friday for first place in the Crestview League, praised the Spartans’ effort. “Awesome,” he said.
Villa Park’s tight bond and drive traces to several players rising the ranks together in youth basketball.
Five of the girls were part of a youth team called the Hot Shots coached by senior Bailey Roczey’s father Scott.
Villa Park senior point guard Olivia Sturdivant joined the team at age 5 or 6.
“We did a North County team for Hot Shots and then we did our AAU (or) club team, which was more competitive,” she recalled at the Orange County girls basketball media day.
“That’s where I met all my best friends and I met coach coach Roczey. He basically recruited me to start playing basketball. I used to be a softball player like my sister. That’s where my love of basketball came from.”
The Hot Shots also featured Villa Park seniors Sabina Patel, Madelyn Martinez and Suriah Auerswald.
The players believe their long-time friendship helps them perform on the court. Their chemistry, for example, leads to unselfish play and more passing.
“Since we’ve been playing together so long, it just kind of comes natural to us,” Bailey Roczey said of chemistry. “We’re really good friends off the court so that translates on the court.”
The teams’ statistics illustrate how the players share the ball.
Villa Park, ranked No. 6 in Orange County, has five players averaging about two assists or more per game. The team’s leading scorers are tightly-bunched from Lauren Wolfe’s 13.4 average to Patel’s 8.2.
Villa Park even runs some of the same plays the girls used with the Hot Shots.
“A lot of our plays,” Patel said, “we used to do that when we were 7, 8 and 9. It’s really muscle memory.”
Villa Park played Etiwanda to prepare for the playoffs. Last season, the Spartans fell to Centennial 66-43 in the first round in Division 1.
“We want to win,” Sturdivant said. “We know that we struggle with (lack of height) but our grit and our hustle definitely make up for it.”
“We’re better prepared (for Division 1) this year than last year,” Willis added after the Etiwanda game. “We’re at the spot that we want to be. (But) we need to take care of business against our league opponents.”
SHORT SHOTS
Villa Park and Canyon played on an NBA court, including the 3-point line, at Intuit Dome on Monday. Players from both teams made shots from beyond the arc as Villa Park won 45-32. …
Valverde lauded Esperanza senior Charlotte Muller after she set the school’s career scoring record during a 25-point performance Saturday against Troy. “She put the work in to become a good shooter,” he said. “She has become a more all-around player. I’m proud of her for that.” …
Esperanza (11-9) has posted seven consecutive 20-win seasons under Valverde. …
Orange Lutheran is expected to start two freshmen and three sophomores in its Trinity League opener against Mater Dei on Tuesday. They are freshmen Ever Lin, Kynley Calvert and sophomores Kayla Watanabe, Olivia Taleon and Madalena Paventy. …
El Modena improved to 19-0 overall and 2-0 in the North Hills League with a 61-27 victory against Foothill last week. The Vanguards play host to Cypress (9-12, 2-0) on Tuesday for first place in the league. …
Rosary’s Royal Showcase on Monday starts at 9 a.m. with El Dorado-Pacifica Christian and ends with Fairmont Prep-Brentwood at 7:30 p.m. The marquee matchup for Orange County: Sage Hill-Bishop Gorman of Nevada at 4:30 p.m. …
Rosary junior Kylie Yoon, the daughter of former Royals coach Rich Yoon, has been out all season with a knee injury, he and coach Leslie Aragon confirmed.
Related Articles
Orange County boys athlete of the week: Acen Jimenez, La Habra Orange County girls basketball Top 25: JSerra still No. 1 after narrow win Corona del Mar boys basketball dominates Edison in Sunset League clash Orange County girls basketball stat leaders, Jan. 12 Orange County boys basketball stat leaders, Jan. 12Hence then, the article about villa park girls basketball draws on long time friendships for chemistry was published today ( ) and is available on The Orange County Register ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Villa Park girls basketball draws on long-time friendships for chemistry )
Also on site :