Oakton High girls basketball coach Fred Priester has been mixing things up a bit — in a good way — for his team of late. The Cougars, with the holidays behind them and the second half of the Concorde District schedule still ahead, are going through what a lot of teams experience at this time of the season when they hit a wall of physical and mental exhaustion.
So earlier this week, Priester had his team lighten things up a bit with a game of wiffle ball, which is kind-of a children’s version of baseball. Instead of practicing basketball, the Cougars, on their own basketball floor last Monday, were swinging for the invisible fences.
"It’s just to keep things fresh and loose, along with [maybe] adding a new inbounds play," said Priester, who at least once a year has his team play a fun-filled wiffle ball, volleyball or kickball game in the gym while also perhaps taking time to teach a brief basketball lesson or two as well.
Priester said his players, who naturally feel the pressure over the course of a season of living up to the high expectations that come with being part of a renowned program that has experienced vast success over the years, had a blast on Monday.
"There were a lot of people laughing and having a good time," Priester said. "We probably let them do this once a year — let them go out and have fun. Some people might look at it as lost moments in practice. I don’t.
"There’s enough pressure on them," he said. "People are used to a pretty high level of accomplishments [with Oakton basketball]. That’s pressure they put on themselves."
<b>CERTAINLY THE COUGARS</b> will be all business, while still enjoying competitive basketball, as the season’s second half of Concorde District play continues over the next several weeks. Oakton (15-0) was scheduled to conclude the first half of the district schedule with a game at Centreville Wednesday, Jan. 21, of this week. The second round through the schedule begins this Friday night when Oakton travels to Robinson.
The challenge for Priester and his coaching staff is to keep his team fresh and excited for each game, which is not always easy when your team is winning handily almost every game it plays. But the coach said he tries to keep things interesting for his team by introducing new offensive plays or defensive schemes and maybe even an occasional game of wiffle ball.
He also stresses that Oakton has not reached its peak as a team. The Cougars, he believes, can still get better in preparation for the upcoming postseason. They should have plenty of motivation after a disappointing finish to last year when Oakton, after winning its fourth consecutive district tournament crown, lost to Annandale in the first round of regionals.
"One thing we’re emphasizing is that we’re still figuring things out," Priester said in regards to his team continuing to grow in knowledge and strategy. "We’re not finished [learning]. We’re still discovering things we can do and we’re still evolving as a team. Roles change from game to game, but our overall notion is if [opponents] take one thing away, there are still other things we can do."
That is certainly the case. Oakton, which has exceptional speed, is hardly a one-dimensional team. They have impressive talent across the board, but play together as a team. If teams focus on stopping one or two players, two others can easily step up and have big nights.
<b>SENIOR FORWARD</b> Erin Mcgartland, the team’s leader, is averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds a game. She is one of three team captains, along with senior guard Sasha Borojen (eight points per game) and senior forward Brianna Johnson (eight).
"Erin is without a question our best leader," Priester said. "Brianna and Sasha back her up.
"Erin knows everyone’s job, including mine," said Priester, with a chuckle.
Some other of the team’s key players include sophomore guard Zora Stephenson, the team’s leading scorer at 13 points per game, and freshman twin sister guards Caroline Coyer (11) and Katherine Coyer (eight).
Priester said his team has a healthy determination to improve as a team and stay focused.
"We’re playing well and have been winning by big scores, but we have to assume it’s going to get harder," Priester said. "They have their eyes firmly on the game ahead, but everyone [still] looks forward to [the postseason] tournament. We just have to continue to do what we can each game."
Oakton’s top-district competition in the weeks ahead are likely to be Centreville, a physically big and strong team, as well as Robinson and Westfield.
Oakton’s next home game is scheduled for next Tuesday, Jan. 27, against Westfield.