Musketeers prepping for second annual Tip-Off Classic at MHS
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

AGGRESSIVE PLAY-Lauren Rohach, right, of Moorpark wrestles the ball away from Pacifica's Tamesha Dixon. MHS will host its second annual Tip-Off Classic Tournament beginning Wednesday.

With winter just around the corner, it's time for basketball season at many high schools. Four teams in the Marmonte League will get an early glimpse of the 2006-07 season when they compete at Moorpark High's TipOff Classic Tournament starting Nov. 29.

After a successful event last year, Marmonte League teams Agoura, Calabasas and Newbury Park will join Moorpark as well as out-of-league teams Camarillo, Chaminade, Santa Monica and Channel Islands in the second annual tournament.

"We are doing this tournament again for a couple reasons," Agoura head coach Kenny Golub said. "I think their facilities are phenomenal, the competition is tough, and it's a good preseason warmup for league play.

"I think there are four terrific programs from the Marmonte League in this tournament. I know Moorpark's and Chaminade's coaches very well and I respect their programs."

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT-Moorpark's Lauren Carter, left, guards Pacifica's Fay Vea during a scrimmage on Monday. MHS, Pacifica and Ventura took turns playing on the Moorpark court.

Moorpark head coach Adam Wohlstattar agreed with Golub.

"This is the second year of the tourney and it was very successful last year," Wohlstattar said. "I think we have some of the best facilities around and last year it was a good experience for the girls."

The tournament should provide good competition as well as a chance for the coaches to see what their teams are made of.

"We're banking on experience being very good for us," Wohlstattar said. "We have six players that will be playing for their third year in a row on the varsity level, so we hope that works out for us."

The six players are seniors Laura Barker and Tiffany Hurd, while Megan Natelson, Molly Carson, Jessica Kidder and Lauren Carter return for the junior years.

Wohlstattar said the tournament will serve as a great opportunity to find out just how good the Musketeers are compared to the rest of the Marmonte League.

"We want to get out on the right foot to start the season and this is our chance," Wohlstattar said. "In this tournament we will be able to find out our strengths and weaknesses as well as where we are at and where we will need to be in order to compete in our league.

"We want to make sure we're good on the defensive end and that we continue to be good on the defensive side once the tournament ends," he said.

Although Moorpark will have a chance to look at many players, the Musketeers won't get to see a couple of their players due to injuries.

Kidder broke her foot and isn't expected back until early December. Amanda Sedo injured her knee and Brittany Light tore her ACL. They are both unsure how long they'll be sidelined.

While the tournament will give Moorpark a chance to gain some experience, it will give Agoura a chance to see what last year's junior varsity team can do on the center stage.

Golub, who's in his first season as varsity head coach after previously coaching the JV team, will bring back the majority of his JV squad for this season.

"I'm bringing back basically the entire JV team from last year, being that we were very successful last season," Golub said. "I've been very impressed with all the girls so far, with them accepting a huge challenge by me over the summer where they played 52 games over six weeks from mid June until late July. I think that gained them some experience at the varsity level and hopefully it will carry over into this tournament and beyond.

"I think this tournament will give us the chance to read our opponents' strategies for the season and see just how good our opponents will be. I'm certainly excited about it," the coach said.

One of the teams Agoura and Moorpark will be comparing themselves to is Newbury Park, last season's Marmonte League winners with a 14-0 record.

The Panthers lost their leading scorer, Kavita Goss, to graduation, but will have key players Arlene Harris and Chelsea Davis returning for their senior year as well as Doris ParkSherman returning for her sophomore year.

Calabasas will return to the tournament, where they struggled last year, losing all four games. This season head coach Stan Whithed is looking to make a better impression.

"It's a great tournament to start the season, even though we didn't do too well in it last year," Whithed said. "It's a good gauge to see where you are at as a team, and we did really enjoy it last year.

"This year we have some depth on our team and we are hoping to play a little better by going at least 22 and getting some respect. Hopefully we can show the Marmonte League that we are for real and we're not going to be a pushover anymore."

The Coyotes will have a couple of players coming back from injuries just in time for the tournament.

Seniors Tori Cusick (concussion), Michelle Malkin (knee), and Daniella Turenshine (flu) should be looking to make an impact. Whithed said junior Danielle Ploussard and Danielle Kleiman have impressed him in practice.

"She (Kleiman) is a true hustler who works hard for rebounds," Whithed said.

The tournament starts Wed., Nov. 29 at Moorpark High and lasts through Sat., Dec. 2.