Trakh Gives Brea Another Challenge

Thirteen years ago, Mark Trakh walked into the Brea-Olinda High School gym for his first day as girls’ basketball coach. It took him about five seconds to realize he was in for something special.

Players dribbled with two hands. They shot at the wrong basket. They tripped over each other in an uncoordinated frenzy.

Trakh, a former boys’ coach, calmly assessed the situation and decided on a game plan. He would implement the fast break.

His own.

“I was thinking, ‘I’m going for the first boys’ job that opens up,’ ” Trakh says now, only half-jokingly.

Trakh stayed, of course, and the rest is girls’ basketball history. Since the 1980-81 season, Brea has gone 335-41. In Orange County, the Ladycats have few peers. Considering their loyal following, theirs might be the most popular dynasty since the days of Blake and Crystal Carrington.

Not that any of that matters tonight or Saturday, when Brea plays host to the Orange County Challenge, a double-doubleheader of top-quality hoops featuring Brea, Capistrano Valley, Fair Oaks Del Campo and Orem (Utah) Mountain View. Games begin at 6:30 each night.

Fun is the featured attraction. At least it’s supposed to be. Because there are no league, section or State titles at stake, Trakh says the idea is simply to showcase girls’ basketball in all its run-and-gun glory.

No stress. No pressure. No worries. No threat of push-ups for every layup missed. Just a laid-back basketball fest, poetry readings optional.

“We’re all going to just run up and down the court, and whoever scores the most wins,” Trakh says.

Right. And during timeouts, Trakh is going to pass out crayons and coloring books, too.

The idea for the Orange County Challenge was a natural, Trakh says. Three years ago, Brea played host to Los Angeles Washington, one of the top City Section programs, and the game sold out.

The next year, Christ the King of New York City, then ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today, came and the fans packed the gym again.

Last year, 200 were turned away when Palos Verdes Peninsula, also ranked No. 1 in the nation, came to play.

“We want to go out and get the toughest team we can find,” Trakh says. “It’s kind of like an event around here.”

Kind of?

A local hotel is donating rooms and breakfasts for the coaches and players, Trakh says. Brea boosters are putting on a pregame barbecue outside the gym. Along with grilled chicken, baked beans and corn, the menu calls for plenty of basketball chitchat. Hoops is definitely happening here.

As it is in Orem, Utah. Mountain View Coach David Houle brings in a two-time defending state large schools champion that’s ranked No. 1 in the state again this year. Senior Raegon Scott is a good reason why. Scott, a 6-foot-3 center, once blocked 21 shots in a game.

At Del Campo, located in a suburb outside Sacramento, Texas-bound Danielle Viglione holds national records for three-point shots made in a season (169) and scored 58 points in a game last season.

And at Capistrano Valley, Coach Harlan Peet says he’s honored just to be invited.

“It’s neat,” said Peet.

Yes, what a treat. Missing all this hoopla are the folks from Shelbyville, Tenn., whom Trakh invited but never got a response. Too bad for Shelbyville.

Trakh believes this is just the kind of happening that will bring girls’ basketball to prominence.

“The more high quality teams we can bring in, the more exposure girls’ basketball will get and more kids will come out,” he says.

Of course, there are some Trakh probably would rather not see, at least not right behind the Brea bench. Seems that a few Orange County teams have been making a habit of attending Brea games, only to boo Brea--or cheer for Ladycat opponents--whenever possible.

“I just tell the (Brea) kids, ‘Hey, take it as a compliment,’ ” Trakh says. “I know my players would never waste their time doing that. Maybe if more of those teams spent their energy taking care of their own business, they’d be better off.”

Trakh expects to see and hear them again this weekend. It’s OK, he says. It doesn’t bother him anymore. Besides, when it comes to basketball, he has been through a lot worse.

Barbie Ludovise’s column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Readers may reach Ludovise by writing her at The Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, 92626 or by calling (714) 966-5847.