Houston girls prep preview

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports

editor

** Editor's note: This is part of a series of stories previewing the local 4A and 3A varsity prep basketball squads for the 2005-06 season.

HOUSTON - The roster of the Houston Hawks girls' basketball squad is like a roster. Head coach Jason Spakousky has all of the pieces on the court. Now it's just a question of finding the right fit, and putting the pieces together.

&#8220We're trying to fit the pieces together,” said Spakousky, now in his second season as the Hawks' head coach. &#8220The pieces are there for us to have a very good season.”

Two of the primary pieces from last season's project - forward Rachel Stewart and guard Kassi Treshom - are gone, creating a large hole in both the Houston front court, and its back court.

Stewart, now a freshman forward on the University of Alaska Fairbanks roster, was Houston's leading scorer last year. Treshom was the team's floor general.

Spakousky said the player that most likely will aim to fill the shoes of Stewart is senior Nori Dixon. Last year a knee injury in just the second game of the season ended Dixon's junior campaign.

&#8220She's ready to step into the scoring role, and at least part of the leadership role,” Spakousky said.

Spakousky is looking to a pair of guards, Jen Mason and Caylee Redford, to fill the void left by Treshom.

&#8220Combined, they'll be asked to do some of the things Treshom did,” Spakousky said.

Spakousky said the guards are young - Redford is a junior and Mason is just a sophomore - but with confidence they should be able to do some of the same things Treshom did for the Hawks last year.

A big part of, at least, the early success of the Hawks will depend on the Houston players learning to trust each other, Spakousky said. The head coach preaches a high pressure defense, and wants his players to hustle and be aggressive without the fear of making the mistake.

&#8220I'd like us to be an upbeat and fast paced team,” Spakousky said. &#8220I want us to be a very aggressive defensive team - really attack instead of being passive.”

An example of that defensive mentality is the play of junior guard Anne Warner, Spakousky said.

&#8220She's a really hard-nosed guard,” Spakousky said. &#8220She works hard and does everything you ask.”

While Spakousky hopes his team applies pressure on the defensive end, he wants the squad to do the same on offense.

&#8220Our defense should really kick-start our offense,” Spakousky said.

A key in the transition from the defensive to the offensive end, could be forward Courtney Elder, Spakousky said. Even though Elder is 5-foot-10 and in the post, she possesses the quickness of a guard.

&#8220She has size and speed,” Spakousky said. &#8220That'll help with our aggressive fast break.”

Leading the Hawks on the glass should be seniors Shannah Dickey and Adrian Thistle.

&#8220They're two very good posts, as far as rebounding,” Spakousky said. &#8220They're very strong, and use their bodies well.”

As the season progresses, Spakousky said, Dickey and Thistle could be major contributors in the Houston scoring attack.

&#8220We're still working with them on the offensive end. But if things start clicking, both players could be dominant,” Spakousky said.

The Hawks started the season going 0-3 in the three-day Palmer Elks Showdown. Houston is currently competing in the Anchorage Christian School/Pepsi Challenge at ACS. Spakousky said he should have a good idea of where his team is at after this tournament. The other three teams on Houston's side of the bracket - Barrow, Valdez and Dillingham - each advanced to the state tournament last year.