Jakosky’s View From Top Isn’t Exactly the Catbird Seat

It certainly wasn’t where Shannon Jakosky wanted to be.

Perched high atop the bleachers, barely within shouting distance of her Newport Harbor High School girls’ basketball team, she was trying to come to terms with the suspension handed down by the Southern Section only hours before.

Jakosky, Newport’s third-year coach, said she had no idea getting together with her team Sunday would be a violation of section rules, said she didn’t think watching an opponent’s game films added up to anything more than educational entertainment.

Next time, coach, better stick to PBS.

“Obviously, I had no idea we weren’t supposed to watch films on a Sunday or I wouldn’t have done it,” Jakosky said. “I take full responsibility, I do. But I would never have worked this hard or this long to do something stupid like that.”

Story believed. It’s just too bad Jakosky, as have so many coaches before her, had to find out the hard way. Had to find out she was out just before the biggest game of Newport Harbor girls’ hoops history. Before her team took on Brea-Olinda, its toughest challenge of the season.

Still, the Sailors fared well considering. Coached by Newport boys’ basketball Coach Bob Serven, the Sailors put out an effort Jakosky would be--and was--very proud of. They fought for every rebound, worked hard for every shot, dived and skidded all over the floor. Unlike most teams, they didn’t back away from Brea, didn’t let the Ladycats intimidate them.

Monday in practice, a 100% legal get together, Jakosky gave her squad a pep talk, the typical pre-Brea spiel every team must hear before a major thrashing.

“They’re only human beings, ladies,” Jakosky told them. “They’ve got a successful program, rich in tradition. We’re starting that here.”

They certainly are. Jakosky and her husband/assistant coach, Jack, that is. Three years ago, they took over a program that was barely noticed by the student body, much less the surrounding community. They started slow. Fundamentals were pretty much nonexistent. Multiple offenses? You might as well flash Morse code their way.

But the fact is, Brea wasn’t in any better condition before Coach Mark Trakh took over in 1980. Girls wore bathing suits instead of gym clothes to practice. They dribbled with two hands, or sometimes didn’t dribble at all.

Now? Brea is a power unlike any other in the county--319-40, after 11 years on the right Trakh. The Ladycat program purrs.

Tuesday night, dozens of girls as young as 6 and 7 dressed in “Ladycat Power,” T-shirts and caps gathered on the court to celebrate Brea’s 63-50 victory. Though still a decade or so away from wearing the Ladycat garb, in their mind, they’re already preparing for the task.

At Brea, freshmen aren’t freshmen--they’re whiz kids in waiting. They come equipped with fine-tuned fundamentals, know basketball better than most kids know the layout of their local Toys R Us.

Point is, nearly the same thing can happen for the Sailor girls. Will happen, that is, if you care to believe Jakosky. She’s a great fan of faith. And, like Trakh, she has a demanding, no-nonsense style. Success is stitched onto her genes. Her father, Ralph Miller, who retired two years ago as Oregon State’s men’s basketball coach, was the sixth-winningest men’s college basketball coach of all time.

Certainly, rule book knowledge aside, Jakosky seems to be the woman to turn around the Sailor girls. She’s already started, as, at 17-9, this season was Newport’s best ever. But she knows it’s more than a matter of moves. It’s mood. As in a positive mood toward girls basketball.

It has been anything but a tradition at Harbor. Like cross-town neighbor Corona del Mar, volleyball has always been it . Volleyball is cool. More important, perhaps, volleyball means . . .

Scholarships.

It’s this prevailing notion--volleyball as golden ticket--that drives Jakosky crazy. She has nothing against the sport. She doesn’t hope to have all the great athletes to herself.

To prove her point, Jakosky introduces Newport Harbor’s three-sport superstar, Maureen McLaren, All-American swimmer, volleyball and basketball player. Her penance for competing in three different sports?

A full ride to Stanford. For volleyball.

Jakosky hopes the younger players see McLaren and realize anything is possible, that self-imposed limits will only set you back.

“You’ve got to start believing,” Jakosky told her players Monday. “Visualizing. Know you can do anything you want to do, know you can beat Brea . . . “

OK, so they didn’t beat Brea. They came close. And believed they had a shot.

And that’s not a bad start.