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GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW:  CABS GROW INTO TITLE CONTENDERS
By Michael J. Craven, Arizona Daily Star, Posted Friday, December 2, 2011

The Phoenix St. Mary's logo on Lyndsay Leikem's yellow undershirt is only visible for the few seconds she tugs on her practice jersey to wipe sweat from her brow.

Otherwise, the garment seems a mere accessory to the mustard-colored trim on her newly acquired Flowing Wells duds. But now, suddenly exposed, the shirt becomes ambiguous; a reminder of her past and the accomplishments she accrued with a different team in a different place.

So what?

The Caballeros, amid a three-year playoff drought, will welcome any semblance of the success their new 6-foot transfer enjoyed over the last two seasons as a Saint Mary's Knight.

After spending her freshman and sophomore seasons in Phoenix, making it to Arizona's 5A-I state championship game each year and winning in her most recent try, Leikem, who attended Flowing Wells Middle School, has returned to Tucson.

More specifically, she's returned to the school where her older twin sisters, Tristany and Kirsten, dominated in tennis, winning four doubles state championships between 2005 and 2008 and becoming the first tandem in Arizona to complete such a feat. Now, Lyndsay hopes to leave a mark at Flowing Wells.

The Caballeros have trudged through mediocrity since winning a state title in 2008, but a return to postseason play seems imminent. Transfers such as Leikem and fellow 6-footer Karina Walker (from Mountain View) have bolstered an already stalwart senior class.

Here's a breakdown of why this year's Cabs could make a strong postseason push:

1. Older and wiser. Eight seniors litter coach Michael Perkins' 14-player roster, including a pair of four-year varsity players: guards Jenny Stohlmann and Jennifer Trueblood.

Perkins, in his seventh year, said he's seen steady improvement among younger players who may have stumbled into post-'08 title varsity roles. He believes all of his seniors are hitting their stride now.

"I've been here for the harder years, but it's been getting better every year," said Trueblood, whose eighth-grade Flowing Wells Middle School team went 32-0."

2. It's a balance. The arrival of Walker and Leikem has already made the team more dynamic. With a physically imposing new post presence in place, Perkins has pushed some previous post players back to the perimeter.

"Karina, Mikaela (Cook) and I are taking more of the post roles and the other girls are finding their new spots on the team," Leikem said.

The transfers seem to be fitting in thus far. Flowing Wells is 4-2 overall after kicking off the season with a 3-2 mark in the talent-packed Gilbert Highland Thanksgiving Tournament.

3. A proven winner. Leikem's arrival provides an interesting contrast to the rest of the group. She's accustomed to a higher level of competition and an expectation to win state every year.

The latter is an outlook she's trying to instill in her teammates.

"She knows what it's like to be on a state champion team, and she tells people what they should do better," Walker said. "She's kind of like a second coach."

Failing to make it all the way "wasn't even an option" at St. Mary's, Leikem said.

The current Flowing Wells players "have never experienced that feeling," she said. "I want to help them so that we can all experience it together."

Watch list

Kristen Dohm, Jr., IR

Chelsey Hunsaker, Jr., SAH

Lyndsay Leikem, Jr., FW

Nythzia Machado, Sr., DOUG

Maciel Moreno, Sr., SMIG

Darian Saunders, Sr., PV

Olivia Snyder, Jr., GF

Jamee Swan, Sr., MAR

Karina Walker, Sr., FW

Ashlee Whitehead, Sr., BUE

Note: Selections made by Star staff in consultation with area coaches

Highland edges Hamilton to win girls Thanksgiving Tournament
Nov 26, 2011

Two tight games both went Highland's way Saturday and resulted in the Hawks winning the championship of their Thanksgiving Girls Basketball Tournament.

Highland edged Hamilton, 47-45, in the title game. Jordan Hagen scored 17 points in the win over Hamilton and was one of four Highland players chosen to the all-tournament team. Highland junior guard Olivia Lucero was the tournament most valuable player. Lucero averaged 13 points a game. Lucero netted 16 points in a 65-60 win over Dobson in the semifinals, including the go-ahead 3 with 45 seconds left after Dobson had taken a 60-59 lead. Highland finished 6-0 in the tournament. Hamilton posted a 5-1 mark.

Rounding out the all-tournament team were:
Amy Pavlica and Krysta Buntrock (Highland); Lauren Evans, Aliyah Dickson and Kyndall Adams (Hamilton); Katherine Hamilton and Tori Lloyd (Dobson); Desiree Smith and Bri White (Tolleson); Maraja Johnson (Valley Vista); Julia Barcello (Seton); Lyndsay Leikam (Flowing Wells) and Ashley Clubb (Mountain Pointe).

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Flowing Wells went 3-2 in the tournament.
FW 60 - 51 Gilbert
FW 68 - 50 Cibola
FW 47 - 25 Desert Ridge
FW 52 - 64 Valley Vista (eventual 5th/6th place overall)
FW 29 - 54 Highland (eventual champions)

Your college recruiting process should begin your freshman year and continue through out your high school career. Don't wait until your senior year to start formulating a plan. Here are five back-to-school tips to help with your recruiting process.

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want a little extra love? If you want to be loved by your basketball coach (and this can apply to your teachers, a boss, or even your parents), follow these three simple rules:

Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player ever cared about many things, but three things were extremely important to him during his entire basketball career.

Six in-coming 2011 freshman basketball players took a little trip to the University of Arizona today for some basketball and team bonding.

Group arrived at Flowing Wells around 8:10am to van over to the University of Arizona Recreation Center where they participated in a 4-hour basketball camp.  Special thanks to whoever brought the muffins but not to whoever kept turning the music full blast.

The camp was free of charge for girls age 14 and under.  Salpointe Catholic High School and the Tucson Sol were the main sponsors of the event and in total over 100 girls showed up.  Our ladies were able to participate in various basketball skill stations as well as listen to a few guest speakers.

After the camp was over we headed to No Anchovies on University for some pizza and nickname creation.  Once 4 of the 6 girls had concrete nicknames in place (Fig, Twig, Baby Bird, and Steg'a) plus two coaches (Wolver-man & Locks) we jumped back in the van and went on a short driving tour down Greek row and the main campus.  Parked the van and headed over to McKale Center to check out the facility and watch as Nadine almost took down the entire 2nd floor seating area of the Hall of Champions. How that happened, well we aren't really sure.  After that we did a little walking, checked out the library, made to much noise and took some pictures.

All in all was a good day .. below are a few photos from our adventure.

Special thanks to:  Chelsea, Gabby, Kylie, Kyra, Laura, and Nadine as well as Coach Perkins and Coach Waterman (Wolver-men) for going and having a great time.

Coach Edwards

Every player wonders it from time to time ... "What exactly does coach want or not want from me?"

So let's discuss it then.

First, a coach wants you to play your role (READ 5.0 - Finding My Role) within the team.  For example, if you are a post player with height then you shouldn't be wandering around the perimeter and throwing up three-point shots even if you do occasionally make them in practice.  Additionally, if you are a designated point guard then when you pass to the wing and cut to the basket you shouldn't stop your cut and flounder around under the basket amongst the giants.  You should be doing what you do best and more importantly what the coach has asked you to do specifically within the concept of the

One important aspect within sports that most young athletes never figure out during their time of play is finding their role within their team.  If you play singles tennis, golf, or any other sport that only involves you then your role is to be the best at your specific sport.  But if you play a sport that requires a team, then your role needs to be defined in order to be successful.  Successful defined here is

A Question Asked Could Be:  "What does it take to be a good basketball post player?"

But the question the coach should ask when examining their players and/or the player should ask when examining themselves as a post player is:  "Can I do the following things?"

1. Score in the fast break?
2. Control my body balance on an offensive rebound?
3. Make my foul shots?
4. Handle contact?
5. Be in the right position on defense?

If the answer to each of these questions is "YES!", then we can assume this player will be able to contribute to their team.  If the 

The words above are defined as an assessment or evaluation of oneself or one's actions and attitudes, in particular, of one's performance at a job or learning task considered in relation to an objective standard.

KNOW YOUR WEAKNESSES:
To truly improve within your craft (basketball) you need to understand what your weaknesses are.  To understand what these