Glendale Community College Women’s Basketball Preview: New-look Vaqueros ready for action
Brooke Radcliff of Burroughs High is one of a handful of area players looking to lead Glendale Community College to an improved 2016-17 season.
There’s been plenty for Joel Weiss to observe at practice during the last few weeks.
The first-year Glendale Community College women’s basketball coach has been busy evaluating each player to see what contributions they can make for a team looking to turn the corner and post a winning record for the first time in three seasons.
Weiss and the Vaqueros will begin their season at 6 p.m. Thursday with a nonconference home game against Mira Costa.
“It’s been a process at practice trying to figure out what the different players can do and we’ve been seeing some good things,” said Weiss, who served as an assistant on the college’s men’s basketball team last season and replaces Carrie Miller. “It’s a simple thing in that we want to see them be tough mentally and physically.
“We want to see them be very competitive in all areas, so that they are ready to step in and make contributions. I think the group we have can do that.”
Weiss said he wants to get the Vaqueros on track after they finished 3-24, 0-14 for last place in the Western State Conference South Division last season.
“You want to build a strong work ethic and practice hard, so you are then prepared for the games,” Weiss said. “You want to be able to teach them a lot and see them develop their skills across the court.
“We have four returners and we’ll look to integrate the new players into the mix. We’ll be looking for growth from our new players.”
Glendale, which last appeared in the postseason in 2003, will have a 15-member squad.
Sophomore guards Luna Panosian (Hoover High), Katia Dabbaghian (Providence), Angela Basco and Paulina Glaviano are likely contributors. Among the freshmen who could start are forwards Kristina Sahakian (Glendale), Chloe Takeuchi and Brooke Radcliff (Burroughs).
“We’re going to rely heavily on our sophomore guards to provide experience and leadership for the new players,” Weiss said. “It will take some time for the new players to get used to competing at the next level. It’s a game-to-game situation where we look for improvement.”
Glendale will participate in four tournaments between Nov. 11-Dec. 18. In addition, the Vaqueros will take part in six nonconference games before moving into a new conference.
After more than a decade competing in the Western State Conference South Division, Glendale will now be in the new East Division. The division will also include Antelope Valley, Barstow, L.A. Valley, Citrus and Victor Valley. Antelope Valley, Citrus and Valley were in the WSC South last season.
Each team will play 10 division games, with Glendale beginning Jan. 14 at Victor Valley. It will have its division home opener Jan. 18 versus Barstow. The Vaqueros will finish the regular season Feb. 18 at Antelope Valley.
“I don’t really know much about the other teams in the division,” Weiss said. “I’m more concerned about how we are playing when we get to conference.”
