Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Andrews set to begin hoops season with Pack girls
By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
The departure of Washington basketball coach Jason Smith has changed the landscape of Pam Pack basketball. Moving over to fill Smith’s shoes this season is Washington’s former varsity girls’ coach Joe Lawrence, and stepping in for Lawrence will be Bobby Andrews.
Andrews admitted it’s been a while since he has coached basketball, but said he is looking forward to the challenge.
The new girls’ coach is looking to bring an exciting brand of play to Washington, and is working hard to make the Pam Pack an immediate competitor in the tough Coastal Conference.
The key to a quick turnaround for Washington will be to improve its defensive effort, which is why Andrews will be having the Pack press a lot.
“I want to press,” Andrews said. “I think I have the kind of team that can press. I would like to run a full-court press a lot, and I think these girls can handle doing that.”
A good pressure defense can create a lot of fast break points for the Pack if it is executed properly. However, when Washington is forced into its half-court set, Andrews said they will run a high-low offense.
“Right now, basically, we will run a high post, low post offense,” Andrews said. “I like to have two in the low post, two on the wing and a point guard.”
With forward/center Samantha Smith and Nicole Hardy on the wing, this year’s team should be well suited for Andrews’ offense.
“I expect a lot out of Sam,” Andrews said. “In practice she has still been ailing from a volleyball injury, but I really expect her to have a good season. Nicole had streaks last year of hitting from the outside, and she has been hitting pretty good in practice this year.”
Andrews said for his team to have a competitive year, it has to be aggressive.
“I want my team to be scrappy,” Andrews said. “I would rather have my team be overaggressive than not aggressive enough. I want my team to be like (former Pam Pack athlete) Meredith Knox. She is the ideal player to me because she was scrappy. If that ball hits the floor, I want them going after it.”
While Knox was one of the leaders from last year’s team, Andrews said he has some good guides on this year’s squad.
“I would say Sam is on the top of that list,” Andrews said. “Nicole has been a good leader and so has Haley Stowe. They are both tough and scrappy.”
As of Wednesday, Andrews was still working on his starting lineup, saying that he is waiting to see some consistency out of his team.
“I’m not really sure yet who is going to be our starting five,” Andrews said. “We just need to get some consistency; that’s what I’m really concerned about right now.
“I think our defense is where I want it to be. We have some girls who can shoot the ball. I’m hoping that our inside game will be better than it was last year. We just need strong team play and consistency.”
The new look Pam Pack will open its season at home Tuesday against the Williamston Tigers.
Andrews admitted it’s been a while since he has coached basketball, but said he is looking forward to the challenge.
The new girls’ coach is looking to bring an exciting brand of play to Washington, and is working hard to make the Pam Pack an immediate competitor in the tough Coastal Conference.
The key to a quick turnaround for Washington will be to improve its defensive effort, which is why Andrews will be having the Pack press a lot.
“I want to press,” Andrews said. “I think I have the kind of team that can press. I would like to run a full-court press a lot, and I think these girls can handle doing that.”
A good pressure defense can create a lot of fast break points for the Pack if it is executed properly. However, when Washington is forced into its half-court set, Andrews said they will run a high-low offense.
“Right now, basically, we will run a high post, low post offense,” Andrews said. “I like to have two in the low post, two on the wing and a point guard.”
With forward/center Samantha Smith and Nicole Hardy on the wing, this year’s team should be well suited for Andrews’ offense.
“I expect a lot out of Sam,” Andrews said. “In practice she has still been ailing from a volleyball injury, but I really expect her to have a good season. Nicole had streaks last year of hitting from the outside, and she has been hitting pretty good in practice this year.”
Andrews said for his team to have a competitive year, it has to be aggressive.
“I want my team to be scrappy,” Andrews said. “I would rather have my team be overaggressive than not aggressive enough. I want my team to be like (former Pam Pack athlete) Meredith Knox. She is the ideal player to me because she was scrappy. If that ball hits the floor, I want them going after it.”
While Knox was one of the leaders from last year’s team, Andrews said he has some good guides on this year’s squad.
“I would say Sam is on the top of that list,” Andrews said. “Nicole has been a good leader and so has Haley Stowe. They are both tough and scrappy.”
As of Wednesday, Andrews was still working on his starting lineup, saying that he is waiting to see some consistency out of his team.
“I’m not really sure yet who is going to be our starting five,” Andrews said. “We just need to get some consistency; that’s what I’m really concerned about right now.
“I think our defense is where I want it to be. We have some girls who can shoot the ball. I’m hoping that our inside game will be better than it was last year. We just need strong team play and consistency.”
The new look Pam Pack will open its season at home Tuesday against the Williamston Tigers.
 |
 |
|
| Lawrence takes over as Washington boys coach | Pirates still trying to shake off Rice loss |
