Trinity had a hard time getting its footing last season. They had a point differential of -138 and allowed 49.4 points per game to their opponents. However, they were 6-4 at home, and if they can find a way to get it done on the road, this team could contend. Here are three reasons why Lauren Recchia thinks you need to watch the Blazers this season:
Blazers bounce back and run the floor
After a 13-16 finish last season that concluded in the regional finals, the Blazers are already eager to advance even further in the 4A playoffs this season.
“I have been excited to see how focused and hungry our kids are this season to leave their mark,” said head coach Kim Coleman. “We have a good group which has been playing together for a while now and we are ready to put the pieces together.”
The Blazers have already shown early on that they are strong in their ability to get up and down and run the floor and defend.
“I’m confident in our ability to defend this year,” Coleman said. “Last year we stuck with the zone defensively and this summer and first week of practice we have emphasized tough man-to-man discipline defense.”
Familiar faces and new faces
Junior forward Makiyah Williams, who averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds per game last season, will be back to help lead the way for the Blazers. Senior Zyerra Stafford, a four-year starter, and junior Maddie Miller will also be players to watch for this season as they have another year of experience under their belt.
“[Williams] is a kid who has been a key talent in helping our program rebuild,” Coleman said. “We know with [Stafford’s] ability to score and create for her teammates that we will be successful. Maddie Miller is our secret weapon; her ability to shoot the ball serves as a big help in the success of our program along with her selfless leadership.”
Senior Lauren Saleh and junior Savanna Childress will also be looking to step up in their own way after gaining more experience.
“[Saleh] is coming off a solid summer and looks a lot more confident this season after having a year of varsity play under her belt,” Coleman said. “Childress will also be huge for us as she has had a year under Stafford and has watched and grown a lot playing for Chicago Hoops Express this summer.”
Among the new faces fans will see for the Blazers this season is standout freshman Ciarra Richardson, as the team will look to get her acquainted with the varsity level.
Intense season of conference play
The Girls Catholic Athletic Conference is always competitive, and this year will be no different. Key matchups with Fenwick, Montini, Loyola, McAuley, and Ignatius will highlight the Blazers’ 2019-2020 campaign, along with facing off against two top 25 teams in Kenwood and Homewood Flossmoor.
“The key to winning our conference is giving 110 percent effort every practice and every game as our conference in my opinion is one of the best in the state,” Coleman said. “We have to bring it, we have to study our opponents, and we have to challenge them to do things they aren’t comfortable doing.”
