Seaside girls basketball is this week's winner of the Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.
Courtesy photo
A 16-2 start for the
Seaside girls basketball team is not by accident, says head coach Wally Hamer.
The Seagulls gave up a scant 33.9 points per game and are also terrors on the boards.
It’s just as Hamer emphasizes and it’s why Seaside is the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.
"We work at the defensive end of the court," Hamer said. "We play pressure full court defense. With an emphasis on good man-to-man defense. We try to box out and give our opponents only one shot. We believe defense and rebounding are the most important parts of our game that will make us successful."
Seaside has had mixed success before this season, going 20-6 last year and before that it was 13-4, 17-8, 9-17, 16-6, 17-8 and 15-12.
Maddi Utti, Seaside
Courtesy photo
The Seagulls started the season with seven straight wins, and after two losses in three games they have won eight straight, led by 5-10 senior forward
Kaitlin Lewis (10.6 points per game) and 5-10 freshman
Maddi Utti (12.7).
Utti has made an immediate impact on the Seagulls as a ninth-grader, something that hasn’t surprised Hamer.
"She has been very dedicated to the game of basketball," Hamer said. "Ever since she was a young girl she has played a lot of ball. She has worked at the fundamentals and is a true team player. Her best attribute is her defensive footwork and she applies tremendous pressure on who she is defending."
Utti epitomizes the team’s youth as the Seagulls have just two seniors on an 11-person roster. The 15th-ranked team in the state shoots 42 percent on 3-pointers, 75 of 180.
The defense plus rebounding plus effective 3-point shooting gives the Seagulls a bright future in the playoffs.
"We have three great captains this year," Hamer said. "
Katy Kawasoe and Katlin Lewis have done a great job of leading our team. They are both great role models and are positive with our team.
"Our goals are to get better every day and to be tough and together no matter what happens to us on and off the court. We want tough-minded players, especially on defense, and work as a team and share the ball."
MaxPreps editorial assistant Kirstin Beal contributed to this report.Do you know a team that deserves
consideration for Oregon Team of the Week? Email us with your
nominations at ORteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.
