GILROY
–– A new season for the Gavilan College women’s basketball team
comes complete with a new head coach and seven of eight fresh faces
on the roster.
But sophomore Nicole Donley
– the only returning player and one of only two sophomores –
brings some experience to the court for the Lady Rams.
GILROY –– A new season for the Gavilan College women’s basketball team comes complete with a new head coach and seven of eight fresh faces on the roster.
But sophomore Nicole Donley – the only returning player and one of only two sophomores – brings some experience to the court for the Lady Rams.
“It’s a great year. Awesome group of girls. Unbelievable attitudes. Each person has their own quality that makes the team better,” said Donley before returning to Tuesday’s practice. “The new coach is great. I’m really excited.”
Donley is the team captain and court general – playing both guard positions. She welcomes the leadership role in her second year at Gavilan College.
“I feel a lot more confident. It’s different than last year,” the Hollister-native said. “This year I’m more confident. We have a lot more chemistry.”
Head coach Mike Girardi is glad to have her aboard.
“She’s our only returning player and she’s our captain. She doing a great job. She’s like another coach on the court,” Girardi said. “Leadership and all-around play (is what I expect from her.) Whatever we need her to do, she gets the job done whether it’s defense, handling the ball, or scoring.”
Although there are no representatives from Gilroy or Live Oak High Schools, there are five players from Hollister on this year’s roster. Freshman forward Jennifer Trembley (5-8) comes in after playing for San Benito High last season.
“She’s a hard worker,” Girardi said. “She’s just fundamentally sound.”
Sophomore swing player Sabrina Murphy (5-7) is the only other upperclassmen with college experience. The Hollister-native played at Menlo College last season.
“She’s seen the college game and played in it,” Girardi, 38, said. “She has some experiences to share with the kids.”
Freshman center Lacy Byers, of Hollister, is the tallest player on the team at five-foot-11. In the loss to Yuba, Byers finished with eight points and eight rebounds.
“She’s pretty good in the post,” Girardi said.
The final player from Haybaler Country is freshman forward Carolyn Beatty.
“She’s a hard worker. She hustles,” Girardi said. “She really helps us on the boards, too.”
Freshman guard Sabrina Morales (5-5), of Watsonville, played at North Monterey County High last season.
“She’s a good all-around player, too,” Girardi said. “Because of their positive attitudes and because they are such a tight-knit group with good work ethic, those factors will help us grow as the season develops.”
Girardi comes to Gavilan after being the assistant coach at Merced College – which was ranked as high as fourth in the state last season. The 12th year coach also was a graduate assistant for the University of Kansas women’s basketball team as well as a head men’s coach at Napa Valley College and an assistant at Rice University, where he also played.
“It’s a lot of fun. I look forward to it every day and I hope they do. We want it to be a positive experience for everybody,” Girardi said. “They play well together and look out for each other. That’s going to be one of our strengths.”
Freshman guard Cynthia Pinto – the women’s soccer team’s leading scorer this fall – was recruited to play hoops by Girardi – who was friendly with Pinto’s high school basketball coach in Merced County.
“She’s a really good all-around player,” said Girardi of Pinto. “She can play both guard spots as well. She and Donley make a real nice tandem. She can shoot and she can also drive.”
Pinto was the Lady Rams’ leading scorer with 16 points in their six-point loss to Yuba College on Nov. 8 and she will be looked to for her scoring touch throughout the season.
“They played real hard. I was really proud of them,” Girardi said. “They played real hard and they played together. They are a very tight-knit group.”
The Lady Rams will play their first home game on Thursday against Solano College at 6 p.m. in the Gavilan gymnasium before packing their bags for an extended road trip.
“The home crowd will make us a little nervous, but it’s good to be back,” Donley said. “We’re playing a good team and we’re going to put up a good fight. This year we have a lot of heart.
