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Rockland High School
School Info
Conference: 1AD2 Rocky Mountain Conference
Classification: 1A D2
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Head Coach: Vern Nelson
Years as Head Coach: 17
Previous Experience: Junior Varsity at Rockland
Record Last Year: 14-12
Assistant Coaches:
Steve May
Who do you have coming back this year?
Savanah Farr, Wing/Post, Senior, 5'10"
Tiffini Lee, Guard, Senior, 5'6"
Kelsey Glenn, Guard/Wing, Senior, 5'7"
Cierra O'Brien, Post, Senior, 5'9"
Mesa Farr, Guard/Wing, Junior, 5'9"
Cortney Petersen, Wing, Junior, 5'6"
Stefani McClanahan, Guard, Sophomore, 5'5"
Aspen O'Brien, Post, Sophomore, 5'11"
Any Returning Players with Honors?
Savanah Farr - 1A Division II All State 2nd Team, Rocky Mountain Conference First Team and Idaho State Journal All Area First Team.
Any “Key Players” that you lost from last year?
Jessie Bott, Wing/Post. She was our second leading rebounder. We will miss her athletic ability on the floor. Donni Lee, Guard. We will miss her Senior leadership.
Do you have any new incoming “impact” players?
None. We are bringing back eight players from last years team who gained a lot of playing time and experience from the season, Districts, Play in Game and the State Tournament.
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Photo By: Steve Conner - #50 Savanah Farr |
As a team, what are your offensive strengths?
Savanah Farr who has been a three year starter and average 14.5 points and 12 rebounds per game last season. The team spent a lot of time in the gym this summer working on improving their individual offensive skills along with summer tournament play. Tiffini Lee, Kelsey Glenn, Mesa Farr and Stefani McClanahan should all be better offensive players this year which will make us a more rounded team and take some offensive pressure off of Savanah Farr.
Their is good athletic ability and quickness on this years team. We will run the floor on offense as much as possible and use a motion offense in half court. Much of our offensive play is keyed off of our defense which allows use to run our fast break offense and get the ball down the floor.
We will be a good rebounding team led by Savanah Farr, Mesa Farr, Cierra O'Brien and Aspen O'Brien.
Offensive areas you hope to improve on over last year:
We need to be a more rounded scoring team with other players stepping up in scoring besides Savanah Farr.
As a team, what are your defensive strengths?
Good athletic ability and team quickness which allows us to get out and play full court pressure defense and also half court pressure defense using a multiple of defenses. Mesa Farr is the best on ball defender that I have Coached. She led our team last year in defensive steals and forced turnovers. Savanah Farr, Tiffini Lee, Kelsey Glenn and Stefani McClanahan bring good quickness and tenacity to our defense. This team has the desire and ability to play good defense. We will be a good rebounding team.
Our focus will be on full court pressure defense and a mixture of multiple defenses to include zones and man to man for our half court defense.
Defensive Areas you hope to improve on over last year:
We need to be more disciplined and not rely so much on stealing the ball, but rather let our defense force the other team to turn the ball over which will help the team eliminate some of the unnecessary fouling which hurt us last season.
Does your team have a motto/theme for the upcoming season?
Busting ours so we can bust yours.
What are you most excited about in regards to this year’s team?
Having the large group of returning players on this years team with the experience they gained from taking 2nd Place in our District Tournament, winning a State Play in Game and also winning a game in the State Tournament.
For the fans, what is the must-see game of the year on your schedule?
Mackay Miners. They are a good program and have dominated our Conference for the past three years. Both Rockland Mackay are very competitive programs and really play hard against each other making it a good game for the fans to watch.
What is the ‘X-Factor’ to having success this season as a team?
The play of Sophomore Stefani McClanahan who took over the Point Guard position during the District Tournament and was a big factor in helping the team get to the State Tournament. She is a young player who has all of the tools and attitude to become a very good player. We need her to continue to improve her game and to be one of the main parts of the team.
If you could change one rule in high school basketball, what would it be?
Fewer jump balls in Girls Basketball. I don't know exactly how to cut back on the number, but it does slow down the game at times.
Besides the pay, the fame and the glory, why do you coach high school basketball?
I have a great love for the game of Basketball. I enjoy Coaching and helping my players become not only better at playing the game of Basketball, but hopefully become better as individuals. I enjoy being around young people - they keep me thinking young and I always learn something from them.
What makes your school the best place to coach for?
Great support from the Administration, parents and community. Coaches are left to run their programs without interference. I have good young ladies to Coach who are supportive of each other and their Coaches. They work hard and try to do their best. Rockland is a small school so you have the chance to work with and to get to know most all of the students.
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