The last few years, girls basketball at Mount View High School has a been a struggle on several levels.
Last year the struggle turned to shutting down the program halfway through season.
That was then and this is now.
First year head coach, and former River View standout, Kristen Calhoun has breathed new life into the program and is hoping to awaken the sleeping giant.
“We are definitely going to be a surprise. People are still thinking we didn’t have a season last year and struggled before that,” Calhoun explained. “When teams see a more organized group of girls come out on the floor, it is going to be a little more intimidating for teams when they realize they are not going to be a pushover.”
Calhoun knows a little about winning having played on the first River View team to qualify for the state tournament back in 2016.
Add in the fact that the former Raider is ecstatic to be on the sideline in Welch and you have a team that is anxious to prove the doubters wrong.
“I have waited for this opportunity since I played basketball in middle school,” Calhoun said. “To finally get to do it is amazing. I am where I need to be. This team needs me up here, so I feel I am where I need to be.”
The Golden Knights approach the season with 14 girls on the roster. Four girls played last year and four have moved up from the middle school.
“I worked hard from August until October getting as many girls as I could,” Calhoun said. “To see how many actually showed up was a relief. It makes my job easier.”
While Mount View overall is still a young team, Calhoun is convinced she has nine or ten players that can contribute on the varsity level.
Sophomore Mi’Lysha “Lakie” Martin will run the point for the Golden Knights and will be one of the top scoring threats on the floor. Even at a young age, Martin has also proven herself to be a valuable leader in practice as well.
“Lakie will run all kinds of ball-handling drills with them. When I have to work with the post players, Lakie is taking the guards and showing them how to dribble through defenders and how to drive in for layups,” Calhoun said. “She has definitely stepped up to fill in a leadership role like Makayla (Williams) and Ty’Quashia (Wray) has this so far season.”
Wray is a senior that will also add scoring for Mount View from the shooting guard position.
“Ty’Quashia is kind of an unsung player that flies under the radar,” Calhoun said. “Everyone tends to count her out, then all of a sudden, boom, boom, boom, you never see her coming.”
Williams and Ryanna Hood will hold down the forward positions and patrol the paint.
“Makayla is our power forward. She is a little on the shorter end to be playing post, but she won’t back down from anything,” Calhoun said. “Ryanna will be the small forward and she is one of the best players on the team. She is the biggest hustler I have.”
The center position will be manned by a pair of seniors, Kaniya Smith and Paiton Rotenberry. Both players could be serious hidden gems for the Golden Knights.
“Kaniya has played before, but hasn’t played the last three years. She is a heck of a rebounder. When she goes for the ball, she is going to get it,” Calhoun said. “Paiton is another one that played as a freshman, but hasn’t played since. She has come in looking like she never left.”
Sophomore Zoey Rose, along with freshmen Ashanti Bonds and Kaylee Cook will add valuable depth off the bench.
“Ashanti is one of the most well-rounded athletes that has come up at such a young age. She knows the game inside out and you can play her at any position,” Calhoun said. “Zoey is the biggest leader amongst the younger girls. She never complains and hustles her heart out. She is going to be our big ball of energy on defense. Kaylee is one of the best defensive players coming up as a freshman. I think she will help us a lot when it comes to jumping passing lanes and stuff like that.”
While Calhoun is convinced her team will surprise people this year, it will have to weather a tough stretch of five road contests to open the season.
“They are all extremely athletic,” Calhoun said. “It is just they haven’t put it to use the last three years. It is all about building back up those lungs and endurance to play in games. I have spoken to a lot of them about my expectations. A lot of the older players are taking like a mentor relationship with the younger girls.”
“I officially received the coaching position at the beginning of the school year,” Calhoun went on to say. “There were six games on the schedule when I took it. So it was all last minute trying to add games here and there. The beginning of the season will be our challenge. If I can get my girls through those away games, I won’t have a problem the remainder of the season.”
