Girls basketball: Casa Grande playing at 'whole other level'
Fri. January 27, 2012 at 11:03 p.m. | By PDPreps.com staff
On a team of good shooters, Casa Grande's Lyndsey Murnin is clearly the best, a 3-point threat with a quick release who’s also comfortable driving and passing. (Photo by CRISTA JEREMIASON / The Press Democrat)
By MICHAEL COIT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
With the only sour spot on the campaign coming against an undefeated opponent ranked third in California, the Casa Grande girls are enjoying a sweet basketball season.
Tasting the state playoffs is the ultimate course for a seasoned squad featuring a handful of players teaming on the court since elementary school.
“We’re a pretty confident team. It’s coming together for us,” said junior Lyndsey Murnin, a sharp-shooting guard. “We didn’t think we would have this strong of a record because of the competition we played.”
While the Gauchos figured to be do well, the girls didn’t expect at the midpoint of Sonoma County League play to be fine-tuning for the postseason.
“All of our players are pretty good offensively and defensively. We find ways to pull it all together,” said Stephanie Sack, a senior point guard. “It’s exciting.”
Not for opponents.
“Casa is at a whole other level this year. Casa’s the best team in the Empire,” said Earl Pasamonte, coach of rival Analy.
With a 69-35 win over Petaluma Friday night, Casa Grande improved to 21-1 overall and 8-0 in league play. The Gauchos are ranked third in North Coast Section Division 2 and 14th in California.
With three All-Empire players in Sack, Murnin and Gretchen Harrigan, the Gauchos are tough across the floor. Sack, who had 14 assists and eight steals in Friday’s win, is fast and a strong passer running the offense. Murnin can score from anywhere.
Harrigan, who scored a game-high 32 points Friday, is a player of the year candidate as a post player with guard quickness.
What makes Casa Grande particularly strong is that wing Brooke Santander and center Desi Zidan must be reckoned with on both ends.
“We’re stronger this year because we’re more balanced,” said Casa Grande coach Dan Sack. “All of our starters are shooting threats. That makes us more difficult to defend.”
The consummate scorer is Harrigan, an inside force equally skilled with midrange jumpers. Harrigan’s teammates are patient about getting her the ball and she is good at drawing contact to get free throws.
“She’s very tenacious,” coach Sack said. “And if teams try to concentrate on her, we get scoring from the perimeter.”
On a team of good shooters, Murnin is clearly the best, a 3-point threat with a quick release who’s also comfortable driving and passing.
“We have a lot of movement in our offense. It makes it hard for teams to double team us,” Murnin said.
Casa Grande’s unselfish play is led by Sack.
“She’s a floor general,” Pasamonte said. “She’s such a great passer. They don’t turn the ball over much.”
While not scoring as much this season, Sack savors making her teammates better. She plays with the sure-mindedness of a three-year starter.
“As a point guard I’m always looking for the better shot besides mine,” Sack said. “I just get pumped up when another player drains a shot.”
Pushing the pace on offense more than past seasons, Casa Grande doesn’t often fall into the trap of shooting too early or forcing bad shots.
In their first league contest, Analy played its typical man defense against Casa Grande. Falling behind, the Tigers fell back into a zone to force the Gauchos to beat them outside — and they did.
Defense has been a strength as Casa Grande becomes more comfortable pressing across the floor. The Gauchos have held good teams in check for long stretches. Notable efforts include a win over St. Francis, from the South Bay, and a decisive victory over Montgomery.
“Our defense has really improved this year. We’re able to rotate and just get it done,” Murnin said.
Relentless defense is what wins close contests, particularly in the playoffs.
Still, the Gauchos can find themselves in foul trouble when applying pressure defense against more athletic opponents.
In the season’s one loss, Casa Grande couldn’t overcome Miramonte’s full-court pressure. Still, it was Miramonte’s closest contest so far in an undefeated season.
Another hurdle heading to the postseason is taller opponents. Clogging lanes and rebounding as a team remain areas of improvement.
“We just have to work harder and get lower to push teams out,” Sack said. “We’re trying to go after the ball more and prevent teams from getting second chances.”
Finding ways to win is the mark of very good teams. Casa Grande is bolstered in that part of the game by a comfort level on the court that can’t be coached over a summer and fall heading into a new season.
Nearly all of the players in Casa Grande’s rotation have played together on North Bay Chicks AAU teams since sixth grade. Sack has been a Chicks coach since 1998.
“You try to build a system because there’s so many facets of the game,” coach Sack said.
In games where opponents surprise Casa Grande with certain offensive plays or defensive adjustments, the Gauchos girls often can adjust, remembering similar scenarios from past club seasons.
Leading the Chicks contingent are seniors Sack, Harrigan and Zidan.
“We’ve been playing together a long time. It can be the difference in tough games,” Sack said. “This is the last season so we’re going all out.”