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Team
photo by Danny Stockton, stocktonstudios.com
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New coach, new
program in Ansonia
Lady Tigers have long road ahead of them
By George Starks
ANSONIA- First year coach Von Eberling may have a rough first season at
Ansonia. Not only does Eberling take over a program that has had its
share of problems over the past few years, he’s doing it alone.
Not only is Eberling coaching the varsity Tigers, he’s coaching the
junior-varsity also.
Through it all, Eberling is staying positive and focusing on his team.
Entering the 2011-12 season, Eberling will see four seniors returning
from last years team: Kelsey Kremer, Lacey Androne, Brooke Jenkins and
Olivia McEldowney. Something to build a team around.
“Our core group of seniors are a very positive group,” said Eberling.
“Olivia will be a guard and she is a pretty solid athlete. She’s strong
and a solid all around athlete. Brooke, Like Olivia, is a multi-sport
athlete that is a good athlete. Lacey and Kelsey are both good. Kelsey
hasn’t played since her freshman year and at 5-10, she will be our post
player. Keeping her in a game will be crucial for us because we aren’t
extremely big. Our other three seniors have a lot of experience and
Kelsey is picking a lot up for us. She has a great attitude and is a
good influence on the under classmen.”
Along with the four seniors, Eberling has two juniors to go along with
them in Alysia Hoying and Rachael Francis, as well as two sophomores
and two freshmen.
“We are very young after our four seniors. I have a freshman, Allison
Phillipi, who will probably be starting and sophomore Katie Fisher
who‘s really strong. We just have to get them over that fear factor
because they are so young,” Eberling said. “We have to concentrate on
doing things right if we are going to compete. If we do things right
when we take the floor, the wins and losses will take care of
themselves. As a junior varsity coach at IU East, that’s was our
philosophy there also. We want to do things right and teach kids to do
things the right way.”
Coming in as the coach in August, Eberling’s back was against the wall
right from the jump.
“We are all in a learning mode,” said Eberling. “I am learning about my
kids and they are getting to know me also. We are trying to learn new
plays that I think they can run and they are trying to learn them.”
With only 13 kids going out for basketball, depth is going to be a
problem.
“Depth will be a problem and that will transcend in to our energy. With
the slim numbers and kids having to play junior varsity and varsity,
the lack of numbers will hurt us depth wise. Our girls have really good
attitudes and that is a positive. There won’t be a lack of playing
time. Everyone will get a chance to play.”
Opening night for Ansonia will be in the Burkett Tournament at
Tri-Village, a week from today, against Franklin Monroe in the
tournament opener.
“As much as I want to go in there and win that tournament, I want to
see my girls go in there and retain the knowledge they’ve learned in
practice,” Eberling stated. “We want to be sharp on our sets and make
sure we are where we need to be. Right now, our timing isn’t where it
needs to be but we are working on it. I’m confident we can go in there
and beat anyone in that tournament. It’s a high expectation but we can
do it.”
Eberling said in closing that he really doesn’t want people thinking
about his team.
“We want to pretty much fly under the radar,” said Eberling. “If we win
the tournament, that will send a message to the rest of the conference
but I would want other teams not to be thinking about us if we do win
it. We know that Tri-Village, Miami East and Covington are the teams to
beat and if everyone else is preparing for them and overlooking us, I
want to make them pay for it. We have to take it one game at a time.”
The Tigers will look to improve on a 7-13 record from a year ago.
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