Team Preview
"Speed, speed and more speed" is the motto for the Wallace High girls basketball team this season, under first-year head coach Chris Lund.
"I am excited to start my first year as a varsity coach," said Lund, who coached the Wallace junior varsity boys team the last three seasons.
"We have a great team returning with a bunch of women that are dedicated and ready to win."
Wallace returns eight players from last year's 7-7 team -- Haley Brackebusch, a 5-foot-5 senior wing/post; Morgan Hill, a 5-1 senior guard; Gretchen Farkas, a 5-5 junior wing/guard; Julia Bennett, a 5-4 senior wing; Hollee Warren, a 5-8 senior post; Sierra Brantz, a 5-3 sophomore guard; Maryssa Hogamier, a 5-3 sophomore wing; and Tamra Jackson, a 5-7 junior post.
A key loss from last year, Lund said, was forward Emily Nelson.
"She had a huge impact on the court and in the locker room," Lund said. "She did anything the coaches asked and played with a lot of heart."
Offensively, "Our strengths this season will be speed," Lund said. "We have very quick players and hope to play with a lot of intensity and quickness. Areas we can improve offensively start with are learning a new offensive system with a first-year coach. It is going to take time for the players to understand and get used to the new offenses I am putting in."
Defensively, he said, "We hope to pressure the ball at all times and make our opponents work for a basket. We have to be able to play quick defense and move our feet without fouling."
Aside from speed, the other "X-factor" for his team this year, Lund said, is "keeping everyone healthy, because we have a small team."
The must-see game of the year, he said, is the home game vs. Lakeside on Jan. 22, 2015, because "it is high intensity, and always fun for the fans."
Lund said if he could change one rule in Idaho high school basketball, it would be "the no arm bar rule implemented this season. It is going to change the way posts and players down low play the game."
Lund said he enjoys coaching "because it is a real joy to watch players from the beginning of the season improve throughout the year. It is always great to see players' reactions and emotions when they are in the big game, especially when the game is at state. For North Idaho players it is truly one of the greatest experiences to be in Boise for the state playoffs."
Asked what makes his school the best place to coach for, Lund said, "Without a shadow of a doubt the community of Wallace is why coaching here is the best place for me. The community of Wallace is the most supportive community I have ever played in and coached in."
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