EF girls are ready to experiment with new strategy

By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
Without a doubt, things are different this season in the high school basketball world.
That’s going to show up on the court this season for the Elizabeth Forward girls basketball team.
While the Warriors return four starters, they’re going to be a little different in what they do on the floor.
“We’re going to try a few new things,” Warriors coach Krystal Gibbs said. “I obviously don’t want to say what they are yet, but I’m excited at the possibilities.”
Returning from last season’s starting lineup are senior guard Anna Resnik, junior forward Bailie Brinson and fellow juniors Brooke Markland and Haven Briggs.
The fifth starter will be sophomore guard Joselyn Dawson.
“We did only lose one starter, but the thing is we lost our entire summer,” Gibbs said. “We did barely anything. We played together as a team a couple times in the fall, but it helps knowing that we have kids that know the system along with how we’re going to change things up.”
Gibbs said depth will be an issue with only 13 girls on the roster, many of whom are freshmen. They’re a talented group, but Gibbs isn’t sure they’re ready to make an immediate impact.
“We have a very talented freshman class coming in,” she said. “There is talent there. I can probably go eight or nine deep if I had to. Once you get to ninth to 13, there’s a big drop there.”
First off the bench for the Warriors will be junior forward Tamar Herchelroath and freshman Amanda Bedzik, who brings court awareness and height.
“If I don’t have a JV team, there’s some girls that may not see too much varsity time. Hopefully things work out,” Gibbs added.
Experience won’t be an issue, but Gibbs is looking for leadership and knows where it’s going to come from.
“It’s all Anna. She’s a coaches dream. She does what she’s told; she’s respectful if she has questions. I can’t put value on her leadership,” Gibbs said. “There’s no option other than for her to be a vocal leader for us. She’s more than ready to step up.”

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