Sports Preview | Cedarcrest girls see strengths on the court this season

Published 2:21 pm Thursday, December 8, 2011

A strong running game, a thrilled coach and a long history playing together are the hallmarks of this year’s Cedarcrest girls basketball team. All they need for a completed wishlist is the return of longtime team leader Molly Hammontree to the court, expected in January, and an improvement on their 11-11 record from last year.

Coach Brad Knowles, in his first year as head coach, is confident that will happen, and is openly planning on a trip to the state championship for his team. “They’ve probably got the most depth of any team I’ve coached,” he said. “I’ve got 11 girls, and they are solid, one through eleven.”

Senior guard Tasha Hartwig is sure the team will improve its record this season. The team’s strength, she says “is running the court,” but the new coach is also having a strong influence. “He doesn’t favor anyone, and I really like that…. he doesn’t have a group of starters and a group of non-starters, and that kind of thing can really get in your head.”

“They can be a lot more relaxed in games, too,” said Hammontree, who is watching from the sidelines until a stress fracture she sustained in the state cross-country tournament in November heals up. Hammontree added that most of the team has been playing together since fifth grade, and know they can count on each other.

For more information, visit the team’s website at www.eteamz.com/cedarcrestgirlsbasketball.