Sage Hill’s three captains sharing one goal

The Sage Hill School girls’ basketball team has won at least a share of the Academy League title each of the past three seasons.

There may be plans for a fourth, but Coach Lou Silverman is tight-lipped. The second-year coach also will say nothing about a possible CIF run, or the number of wins he would like the Lightning to attain.

“No bulletin board material from me,” Silverman said. “We’re focused internally on playing up to our expectations. We’re focused on realizing our potential.”

Despite their team name, there will be little flashy from the Lightning on the court either, which is fine with Silverman.

“We try to play a patient and deliberate style of basketball,” he said. “We want to be smart, take good care of the ball and be solid defensively. We’ll look to get good shots on the offensive end, as opposed to quick shots.”

Sage Hill (2-4) returns four starters from a team that went an even 13-13 a year ago, advancing to the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA second round before losing to Calvary Chapel.

Three of the returning starters are tri-captains, in senior guards Katie McKeon and Jordan Hidalgo and junior forward Tierney Danner.

Danner, an All-Newport Mesa selection last season, led the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game. She was second in rebounding, with 7.2 per game, and added 1.2 blocks per game.

The scoring average was second among league players for the first-team All-Academy League selection.

“She’s smart, she’s quick and she works real hard,” Silverman said. “She’s a tough matchup for a lot of post players because of her quickness.”

McKeon brings experience as a three-year varsity starter at point guard, where she dished out three assists per game last year as a second-team All-Academy League selection.

“Katie’s a very experienced player and has been through every situation there is,” Silverman said. “I just can’t say enough about her leadership skills.”

He said Hidalgo, another senior returning starter, is the Lightning’s shut-down defender.

The three captains will hope to carry some of the load that graduate Kaitlin Tyre carried.

Tyre, a first-team All-Academy League and All-Newport Mesa Selection a year ago, averaged a double-double during league play for Sage Hill. For the season, she was second on the team in scoring (9.7 points per game) and assists (2.9) and led the team in rebounding (8.6 per game) and steals (two).

“Everyone will pitch in a little bit,” Silverman said in regards to replacing her production.

Juniors Stephanie Garrison and Morgan Hembarsky also return. Hembarsky, who suffered a knee injury last season, is an outside threat for the Lightning. Garrison, who started every game last year for Sage, is a post presence.

“Both are very experienced and very strong all-around players,” Silverman said. “They play a good brand of basketball.”

Other varsity returners who provide depth include junior guard Morgan West, and sophomore forwards Julia Schaus, Caitlin Sullivan and Hannah Jeffrey. Players who are up from last year’s junior varsity are juniors Lora Carpenter and Kay Feker, as well as sophomore Hanna Hunt.

The players should also benefit from the guidance of assistant coach Scott Kahawai. Kahawai, who was the Estancia boys’ basketball coach last year before resigning this summer, also coached the CdM girls from 2004-06, leading the Sea Kings to a CIF Southern Section Division III-AA playoff berth in 2006.

“We benefit from his experience,” Silverman said. “He fit right in very well.”

He hopes the same will be true of any player that will be on the court for Sage Hill at a given time.

“We’ll try to get everyone involved, and make the opposition defend five basketball players,” Silverman said. “We want to have five scorers on the court.”

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at [email protected].