Photo courtesy of Lakeview High basketball
Week 17 Winner: Lakeview Girls Basketball
It's a number, just a number. And
Lakeview girls basketball coach Brandi Harris is certain her Honkers — yes the Honkers! — can fly right past it.
The figure is 14, as in 14 victories: Lakeview has won 14 games four of the last five seasons.
But with a 9-2 record, a seven-game win streak and strong one-two guard punch of
Amanda Arcularius (16.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 steals per game) and
Delaney Hall (14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 steals, 4.5 assists), the Honkers could clear that total by the end of the month.
Harris certainly believes so.
"Absolutely,
I believe in this team and the potential they have to continue moving
forward," she said. "They are committed to each other and the goals we
set, they are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to get better
every day. They continually improve on their mental game and overcoming
the adversity that the game of basketball presents."
For their
improvement and win streak, the Honkers have been picked as the MaxPreps
Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon Army National Guard.
The
team plays superb defense, proven by its opponents' totals over the
last seven games: 39, 30, 30, 42, 44, 50 and 34. Harris said what has
been at the heart of her team's win streak is a bigger picture.
"I
believe that we are learning to play consistent and continually strive
to get better each day," she said. "We measure our success against
ourselves and not our opponents. The girls have big goals and are
working hard every day to keep their focus to get better every day and
achieve their goals."
It helps to have 3-point shooting like the kind Arcularius delivers. She has made 24 in 76 attempts.
The team's other big offensive threat is senior
Carley Cahill
(8.3 points, 6.0 rebounds per game), a 5-foot-9 senior. But clearly,
Arcularius and Hall, nicknamed "Winks," put the honk into the Honkers.
Harris said it's a complete team effort.
"Each
girl on the team is committed to their role and know they have a job to
do and they do it," Harris said. "These ladies have been playing
together for a long time and have a court awareness and trust in one
another that allows them to excel as a team. They are selfless.
"The
overall strength of this team is their commitment to each other, they
truly believe in each other. They know the meaning of 'hold the rope.'
They put the team first. They are a family."
