Counting on chemistry

With only one senior, Idaho’s maiden run in the Western Athletic Conference was a little bumpy as far as the Vandals women’s basketball team was concerned.

But that was nothing compared to the off-season when an assistant coach and several underclassmen, including star point guard Leilani Mitchell, left the program.

Sixth-year coach Mike Divilbiss, however, is only looking forward and his new team, with six newcomers and just one senior, has recharged his batteries.

“For my 20th year of coaching, I’m having as much fun as I’ve ever had in a gym working with a group of kids,” he said. “We’ve got a great group of girls. They love to compete, they love to play, they love to learn. They’ve been a joy to work with and I think they’re enjoying it. It’s been a really fun fall.”

But with so many new faces he’s expecting bumps along the road.

“There’s so much we have to learn,” he said. “It’s just really important to fall in love with the process, grow, keep teaching the kids and let them know we’re going to be a different team, a better team, in February and March.”

Admitting he doesn’t know exactly how all the new players are going to adjust to their roles, Divilbiss said he is counting on chemistry to help the team.

“It’s going to be a lot more together group of kids,” Divilbiss said. “Team chemistry is better. Kids are going to feel a freedom to be a part of the offense at all times. Kids are going to play their role and not be afraid to play their role.

“Chemistry helps you handle adversity, which there is going to be on every team. How you handle those bumps in the road is what separates you from everybody else. This team, I think, is really going to bond.”

The only returning starters are leading rebounder Jessica Summers (7.5 rpg), who is also the top returning scorer (9.0 ppg), and wing Karly Felton (6.5 ppg), the lone senior.

“Jessica and Karly should have good years,” Divilbiss said. “They’re going to be thrust into different roles and they’re going to be asked to do more.”

Junior Ticey Westbrooks is a veteran who missed her first and third seasons in Moscow with injuries and is still short of being 100 percent healthy.

Divilbiss went the junior college route to rebuild his roster, picking up five, including three from North Idaho’s 24-7 team.

Making the best impression have been wings Sara Dennehy from NIC, Hannah Wells from Skagit Valley and Liz Witte out of Butler (Kan.) Community College.

The coach also expects two freshmen, 6-foot post Katie Madison from Prairie HS and guard Charlotte Otero, to contribute.

“The kids believe in the coaches, the coaches believe in the kids, the kids believe in the kids and the coaches believe in the coaches,” Divilbiss said. “When you have that going on you can do some great things. I think that’s the biggest way we’re different.

“We’re going to go through some growing pains, but a year from now we’re going to be a very, very good basketball team.”