GIRLS’ BASKETBALL 1993-94 / ORANGE LEAGUE : Hudson Stands Out, Even From a Shadow

Senior Colleen Hudson will soon have the chance to fulfill her dream of winning four consecutive State girls’ basketball championships.

The 6-foot-2 center, now in her third year as a starter at Brea-Olinda, is one of the most productive Ladycats, yet not the most recognized.

Despite being named to All-Orange League, All-Southern Section and All-State teams, Hudson lives in the shadow of one of the county’s most highly recruited players, teammate Nicole Erickson.

“I’m not bothered by all the attention she gets,” Hudson said. “She deserves all of it. (Besides), I don’t like to talk about myself.”

Hudson was among the leading scorers and rebounders in the county last season, averaging 15.7 points and 9.1 rebounds. She also shot 57.9% from the floor, second best in the county.

She has been recruited by several schools, including Pepperdine, Cal State Fullerton, Northern Arizona and Long Beach State, but has decided to sign later, keeping her options open.

“You could say she’s the Nicole Erickson of the paint,” Brea-Olinda Coach John Hattrup said. “She does everything that Nicole Erickson does, only down low, in the paint.

“She’s physical, she has a great knowledge of the game, she handles the ball well and she has a quick first step. She’s a complete player. I know that she is one of the best post players in Orange County, if not in the state.”

This season will should be memorable for Hudson, not simply because of the run for another State championship, but because for the first time in her four years at Brea, Mark Trakh will not be pacing the sideline.

“I’m going to miss Coach Trakh a lot,” she said. “He was a good friend and a good coach. It’s going to be a different experience this year.”

Trakh ended his 13-year run at Brea to coach at the college level, accepting a job at Pepperdine during the off-season. He took the Ladycats to four State titles and five section titles in the past five years and accumulated a 356-42 record during his tenure. Hattrup, the former Mission Viejo High head coach and assistant at Brea for the last six years, is now in charge.

“I definitely think Coach Hattrup can fill his shoes,” Hudson said. “He’s been an assistant ever since I’ve been here.”

According to Hattrup, Hudson has improved tremendously since her freshman season because of her work ethic on and off the court.

“She is awesome compared to her freshman year,” he said. “A lot of it’s due to her hard work in the weight room and on the court. She is very strong both in her upper and lower body, and she’s very physical.”

Playing on a team that dominates nearly every league game year after year would seem to become tedious--maybe even boring--but Hudson says it’s fun.

“I like it,” she said. “Being with the rest of the team, together, is fun. We just go out there and do our best every game.”

Hudson attributes a lot of her success, as well as the team’s, to the coaching staff.

“Everybody carries on a tradition,” she said. “The coaches have a lot to do with it. Other people now know what it’s like, and they want to come and play here.”

According to Hattrup, the girls do all the work.

“We don’t judge what one or two players do,” he said. “We believe in a team concept. Everybody contributes.

“Colleen knows what her role is and she contributes. She does what we ask her to do, and she does it very well.”

Hudson says this year’s Ladycat team has a good chance of defending its State title, because its makeup is virtually the same as last year’s squad.

“Our chances are pretty good,” Hudson said. “We need to play together as a team. We are pretty much the same team, and everyone has stepped it up. We all know what the next step is.”

Hudson says she doesn’t set her sights on statistics, rather on her evaluation of her performance.

“I look at the way I play in a game, and every game I try to improve myself.”