Women's Basketball Looks to Build Winning Streak with Focus on Fundamentals

Legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, “its the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”

Early in the 2024 season, the Chaffey Panthers women's basketball team, currently 4-3, is emphasizing a back-to-basics approach to hopefully ignite a winning streak.  

“We’ve tried to simplify things for our team,’ states head coach Kendyl Rizea. “We want each player to execute small tasks and have goals of two or three possessions at a time. We’ve broken down some of our drills into mini competitions where scoring isn’t worth any points, but rather focused on rebounding, off ball rotations, and getting touches on defense.”

Consistency is a word that gets mentioned within the team often. With this approach, the coaching staff aims to eliminate the lapses that has been happening through the games. 

In addition, turnovers have been a key area of concern, particularly in recent losses against Santa Ana College and Citrus College. Rizea stresses the need for greater energy and execution, urging players to focus on one possession at a time and execute the small tasks that contribute to overall success.

Freshman Danielle Singley continues to impress. In seven games she is averaging 19.7 points per game and is shooting 50.5% from the field. A dual sport student-athlete (softball), Singley is a 4.0 student and exemplifies what it means to be a Chaffey Panther. “There is just something about the way Danie operates,’ adds Rizea. “She has always had a level of self-discipline and understands that how you operate is in the details and she has those down. She is a great teammate and will always find a way to contribute.”

Despite missing starting two-guard Aleksia Gadea for the last four games, several players have stepped up. Sophomore Jada Cuellar has been attacking the basket effectively, with a standout 17-point performance against Riverside City College. Freshman Olivia Perlin has earned significant playing time with her ball-handling and assist skills, contributing 7 assists against Santa Ana College. Freshman Zoe Garcia has been a force in rebounding, while guard Ariana Norton has provided a strong outside presence. Alexa Castricone has come off the bench to hit timely three-pointers, and Akami Garrett has impressed with her defensive tenacity.

The team will once again hit the road for the Eagle Invitational at Mt. San Jacinto College, starting Friday, December 6. They will face Skyline College at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Irvine Valley College at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.