Newcomer, Returning Talent Give Lehi Girls Hope
By Jared Lloyd
Provo Daily Herald
Youth can be a major disadvantage for basketball teams, as the Lehi girls basketball team could attest from
its experience last year.
"We were young, no doubt about it," said Pioneer head coach Khalil Sikander. "That hurt us a lot and we
didn't know how tough it was going to be."
In 2008-09, Lehi believes not only that their underclassmen have grown and matured but also that the team
can expect some extra excitement from this season's youngsters.
Particularly 6-foot-5 sophomore Elle Brainard.
"She's a great addition," Sikander said. "Her presence inside can help get wins and confidence. She still has
a lot to learn but we think she's going to be good."
The addition of the tall, talented post player to a cast that already has experienced a year of competing at the
5A level makes the Pioneers even more dangerous.
"We weren't getting blown out in games," the Lehi coach said. "These players have the desire to get better
and really came to practice. They've been working hard since Day No. 1 and I think they know what it takes to
get wins."
Senior guard Katie Rogers will play a big role for the Pioneers, according to Sikander.
"She lead the team last year and has great scoring ability," he said. "She's the key for us. She's more
aggressive and has worked hard enough to take her game to the next level."
Lehi also expects big things from Jackie Cattani, Briar Sands and Kjersti Secretan, all of whom are athletic
and have experience.
The Pioneers also got a boost with West Jordan move-in Chelsea Atoa coming to town.
"She has some great 1-on-1 ability and is going to be a great addition," Sikander said. "She has a great
basketball mind and is still getting better."
The program is also in the interesting position of not knowing which underclassman will still be there next
year when they return to Class 4A because many will have the choice of going to the new Westlake High
School in Saratoga Springs.
"We can't recruit them and they have the choice," Sikander said. "It will just depend on where they want to go."
That means they have to see what they can do this season and that might mean doing things a little
differently on offense.
"We might go four-out, one-in," Sikander explained. "We've got some opportunities to go down inside but
we're also guard-heavy. That will give us the ability to penetrate and make things happen."
The key for Lehi will be playing smart basketball, according to the head coach.
"We've got to let the game happen," he said. "There's more than just being tall or just being physical. If the
girls do what we teach and stick to the fundamentals, we'll be fine. When we get outside of that, that's when
we get hurt."
Sikander hopes that doing those things will put his squad in position to make a run in Region 4.
"I think American Fork is the top team and after that it's a toss up," he said. "Everybody else lost some key
players, so there's no clear-cut order. There are only three teams going to state and that will set the tone.
Everybody knows that and wants to win."
LEHI FACTS
Head Coach: Khalil Sikander
2007-08 record: 4-15, 1-9 Region 4
Postseason: None
Key losses: Stephanie Rogers 6-0 F/C (11.0), Marci Gray 5-9 G/F (4.0)
Key returnees: Sands 5.0, Cattani 7.95, Hunt 2.58, K. Rogers 1.79, Secretan 2.53, Stucki 2.58, W. Hunter
1.16
Newcomer to watch: Elle Brainard 6-5 C
The Word: There's enough experience returning for the Pioneers to be optimistic about 2008-09. Cattani
and Sands lead a strong group.
By Jared Lloyd
Provo Daily Herald
Youth can be a major disadvantage for basketball teams, as the Lehi girls basketball team could attest from
its experience last year.
"We were young, no doubt about it," said Pioneer head coach Khalil Sikander. "That hurt us a lot and we
didn't know how tough it was going to be."
In 2008-09, Lehi believes not only that their underclassmen have grown and matured but also that the team
can expect some extra excitement from this season's youngsters.
Particularly 6-foot-5 sophomore Elle Brainard.
"She's a great addition," Sikander said. "Her presence inside can help get wins and confidence. She still has
a lot to learn but we think she's going to be good."
The addition of the tall, talented post player to a cast that already has experienced a year of competing at the
5A level makes the Pioneers even more dangerous.
"We weren't getting blown out in games," the Lehi coach said. "These players have the desire to get better
and really came to practice. They've been working hard since Day No. 1 and I think they know what it takes to
get wins."
Senior guard Katie Rogers will play a big role for the Pioneers, according to Sikander.
"She lead the team last year and has great scoring ability," he said. "She's the key for us. She's more
aggressive and has worked hard enough to take her game to the next level."
Lehi also expects big things from Jackie Cattani, Briar Sands and Kjersti Secretan, all of whom are athletic
and have experience.
The Pioneers also got a boost with West Jordan move-in Chelsea Atoa coming to town.
"She has some great 1-on-1 ability and is going to be a great addition," Sikander said. "She has a great
basketball mind and is still getting better."
The program is also in the interesting position of not knowing which underclassman will still be there next
year when they return to Class 4A because many will have the choice of going to the new Westlake High
School in Saratoga Springs.
"We can't recruit them and they have the choice," Sikander said. "It will just depend on where they want to go."
That means they have to see what they can do this season and that might mean doing things a little
differently on offense.
"We might go four-out, one-in," Sikander explained. "We've got some opportunities to go down inside but
we're also guard-heavy. That will give us the ability to penetrate and make things happen."
The key for Lehi will be playing smart basketball, according to the head coach.
"We've got to let the game happen," he said. "There's more than just being tall or just being physical. If the
girls do what we teach and stick to the fundamentals, we'll be fine. When we get outside of that, that's when
we get hurt."
Sikander hopes that doing those things will put his squad in position to make a run in Region 4.
"I think American Fork is the top team and after that it's a toss up," he said. "Everybody else lost some key
players, so there's no clear-cut order. There are only three teams going to state and that will set the tone.
Everybody knows that and wants to win."
LEHI FACTS
Head Coach: Khalil Sikander
2007-08 record: 4-15, 1-9 Region 4
Postseason: None
Key losses: Stephanie Rogers 6-0 F/C (11.0), Marci Gray 5-9 G/F (4.0)
Key returnees: Sands 5.0, Cattani 7.95, Hunt 2.58, K. Rogers 1.79, Secretan 2.53, Stucki 2.58, W. Hunter
1.16
Newcomer to watch: Elle Brainard 6-5 C
The Word: There's enough experience returning for the Pioneers to be optimistic about 2008-09. Cattani
and Sands lead a strong group.
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