More than just points

The senior looks forward after an award-winning junior year for the Lightning. Even before Jim Perez became the girls’ basketball coach at Sage Hill School, he already had a good idea of what he had in Haywood Wright.

“I was able to coach against her three times, and I could see she was a big time player,” said Perez, who watched her play when he coached the So Cal Spirit club team.

“It’s difficult to find someone that is her size with that much athletic ability,” he added.

Wright took a big step last season, leading the Sage Hill girls to an Academy League co-championship and earning Daily Pilot Player of the Year and All-CIF Southern Section Division IV-A second-team honors.

Now, the senior is being asked to take another step forward as the team’s vocal leader as the Lightning seek to improve on their quarterfinal finish last season.

The 6-foot-1 post player led the Lightning in scoring as a junior, averaging 13.4 points per game to go with her 13.2 rebounds. Wright led the team in scoring in 14 of the team’s 23 contests, including a season-best 21 points against Oxford Academy.

Her numbers stayed strong in Sage Hill’s biggest games. Wright averaged 18 points in the Lightning’s two meetings with league co-champion Brethren Christian. She had 13 points and 12 rebounds in the Lightning’s 52-18 rout of Buckley in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV-A playoffs, and had 19 points and 18 rebounds in a 47-45 second-round win over Woodcrest Christian.

After all that, Perez asked Wright to take a more vocal leadership role.

“Last season, it seemed she was more of a silent leader on the team,” Perez said. “I have asked her to be a captain and to play more aggressive this season.”

Wright has stepped up early for Perez, adapting to his style and philosophies.

“She has been a very quick learner,” Perez said. “We are changing defensive sets this year, and she is one of the first to pick it up.”

Wright said the team has taken a liking to Perez.

“It’s actually been a seamless transition,” Wright said. “Obviously, we are still picking up the new system and his style of defense. But he’s a good coach and he will make us better.”

Perez said he knows Wright’s skills and dedication will pay future dividends.

“She practices and plays with heart and desire,” Perez said. “She always wants to get better.”

Wright said she is determined not to get complacent in her skills on the court. She set personal goals to improve her free-throw shooting and her offensive post moves.

She also found a way to improve her defense, using the techniques she picked up as a member of the Lightning’s CIF Southern Section Division IV-A championship girls’ volleyball team.

“One of the important things in volleyball is to jump straight up without touching the net,” Wright said. “I think jumping like that without leaning over will help me block more shots without getting fouls called.”

Her coach says that her work ethic will help her excel at the next level.

Wright has committed to play basketball next season at Yale University.

CORONA DEL MAR SEA KINGS

Coach: Scott Kahawai (second year)

2004-05 record: 14-15, 6-6 in Pacific Coast League

Returning starters: G Katie Schulte (5-6, Sr.); G Allie Durenberger (5-4, Jr.); C Kristina Wayte (6-0 Sr.); F Megan Benbow (5-7, Sr.)

Key newcomers: G Susan Moheinani (5-5, Sr.); F Andrea Wayte (5-10, Sr.); G Emily Parsons (5-6, Sr.)

Key dates: at Marina, Dec. 8; vs. Elsinore at Norco Tournament, Dec. 16; at University, Jan. 4; at Laguna Beach, Jan. 18; at home vs. University, Jan. 25; at home vs. Laguna Beach, Feb. 6.

Outlook: Coach Scott Kahawai made an immediate impact on the Sea Kings in his first season, as the team doubled its win total from the previous year, going from seven to 14.

Corona del Mar hopes to take advantage of its team speed. Kahawai said he wants to employ a pressing defense that will lead to an up-tempo offense.

The team returns their leading scorer -- Katie Schulte -- from last season. The senior tallied 13.4 points per game and was named to the 2004-05 Daily Pilot Dream Team.

The Sea Kings bring back four players -- seniors Kristina Wayte (6.0), Megan Benbow (6.0), Shannon Johnson (5.0) and junior Allie Durenberger (6.1) -- from last season’s team who averaged more than five points per game.

Kahawai said the team has three goals for the season: win the Pacific Coast League championship, earn a home playoff game, and advance to the second round of the CIF Southern Section playoffs this year.

COSTA MESA MUSTANGS

Coach: Jim Weeks (eighth season)

2004-05 record: 9-17, 5-7 in Golden West League

Returning starters: F Bethany Vergara (5-6, Sr.); F Tracy Bjelland (5-8, Sr.)

Key newcomers: G Cathy Trinh (5-5, So.); F Nikki Brannon (5-8, Jr.); C Jasmine Werdel (6-0, So.)

Key dates: at Savanna, Dec. 13; at Junipero Serra, Jan. 14; at home vs. Estancia, Jan. 24; at Estancia, Jan. 28; at Saddleback, Feb. 1.

Outlook: Coach Jim Weeks hopes to improve on last year’s 9-17 campaign, which resulted in Costa Mesa missing the playoffs for the first time in three years.

One factor that will help is experience. Ten varsity players from the 2004-05 season are returning for the Mustangs.

The top three scorers from last year-- seniors Bethany Vergara (9.3 points per game), Tracy Bjelland (8.7) and Deanna Sanchez (5.4) -- return for Costa Mesa.

Vergara led the Mustangs in scoring 12 times last year. She hit her season-high of 20 points, including five three-pointers, in last year’s 58-41 loss to El Toro.

Bjelland scored in double figures in 9 of 23 games played last season. Meeks said the forward is healed from an ankle injury that hampered her play during volleyball season. Bjelland scored a career-high 22 points in a 65-28 win over Pomona Catholic at the Chino Hills tournament.

Meeks said he believes senior Jasmine Werdel and junior Jennifer Courtney will shore up the post defense -- one of the Mustangs’ shortcomings last year.

ESTANCIA EAGLES

Coach: Ernie Wright (second year)

2004-05 record: 6-19, 3-9 in Golden West League

Returning starters: G Be Diep (5-2, Sr.); G Yasmin Arroyo (5-3, Jr.); F-C Michelle Hallock (6-0 Jr.)

Key newcomers: C Jaye Hellmich (6-2, Jr.); F Lina You (5-6, Jr.)

Key dates: at Ocean View, Jan. 12; Saddleback, Jan. 18; at Costa Mesa, Jan. 24; at home vs. Costa Mesa, Jan. 28; at home vs. Ocean View, Feb. 1; at Saddleback, Feb. 7.

Outlook: The Eagles should improve on last year’s record, with eight returning players.

Be Diep will be the catalyst on offense, after leading the team in scoring as a junior, with 12.6 points per game.

Yasmin Arroyo showed flashes of scoring punch last year, reaching double figures twice and averaging 5.2 points per game in the last six games of the season.

Wright recruited Jaye Hellmich from the volleyball team. Wright said the junior is the first girl he has seen who can touch the rim.

Four of the Eagles’ new players -- Hellmich, Michelle Hallock (6-0), Breanna Neal (6-0) and Courtney Ulrich (6-0) -- are at least six-feet.

NEWPORT HARBOR SAILORS

Coach: Jen Thompson (fifth year)

2004-05 record: 11-16, 2-8 in Sea View League

Returning starters: F Jessica Bodkin (6-0, Jr.); F Brittany Deyan (6-0, Jr.); G Ivy Melo (5-5, Jr.); G-F Amber Munnelly (5-8, Jr.)

Key newcomers: F Gricelle Cordero (5-11, Sr.); G Karen Avilas (5-4, Sr.); G Christina O’Tousa (5-5, Fr.); G Heather Bisch (5-5, Sr.)

Key dates: vs. North Torrance at Cerritos Valley Christian Tournament, Dec. 14; at Woodbridge, Jan. 5; at home vs. Aliso Niguel, Jan. 12; at home vs. Woodbridge, Jan. 24; at Aliso Niguel, Jan. 31.

Outlook: Newport Harbor hopes to relive last season’s fast start. The Sailors began the season 9-4 before struggling in the second half of the season.

In December, the Tars compete in the Cerritos Valley Christian Tournament, the South Coast Classic and the Nike San Marcos Tournament.

Newport Harbor has just four players -- juniors Jessica Bodkin, Ivy Melo, Amber Munnelly and Brittany Deyan -- returning from last year’s team.

Bodkin is the leading returning scorer at 6.5 points per game. The six-foot post player scored in double figures six times last season.

SAGE HILL LIGHTNING

Coach: Jim Perez (first year)

2004-05 record: 14-9, 8-2 in Academy League

Returning starters: C Haywood Wright (6-2, Sr.);G-F Kaitlyn Tyre (5-9, Jr.); G Katie McKeon (5-4 So.); F Rebecca Hembarsky (5-10, Sr.)

Key newcomers: F Tiereny Danner (5’11 Fr.); G Morgan Hembarsky (5-7 Fr.).

Key dates: at Pasadena Westridge, Dec. 12; at home vs. Mater Dei, Dec. 15; at home vs. Brethren Christian, Jan. 10; at Brethren Christian, Jan. 27; at home vs. Junipero Serra, Jan. 31.

Outlook: Last year’s record marked a four-game improvement over the 2003-04 season. The Lightning tied Brethren Christian for the Academy League championship, and advancing to the CIF Southern Section Division IV-A quarterfinals.

Sage lost center Katie Puishys and her 12.4 points per game to graduation, but Haywood Wright will take up the slack.

First-year Coach Jim Perez will install the type of defense he learned at Mater Dei. Perez previously coached the junior varsity for the Monarchs. This is his first varsity head coaching job.

Perez said he’s been impressed with guard Kaitlyn Tyre’s court awareness. The junior scored 5.7 points per game last season. Tyre scored in double figures four times last year.20051203CS1LK9LINo Caption20051203iceewskfDAILY PILOT(LA)Haywood Wright pivots around Buckley defenders during a CIF playoff game last year.20051203iceeumkfMARK C. DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Sage Hill’s Haywood Wright was an All-CIF Southern Section Division IV-A second-team selection after helping the Lightning reach the division quarterfinals last year.