High school girls’ basketball team debuts tonight

Eight is enough.

The title of a popular 1970s TV series is also an apt rallying cry for the La Conner High School girls’ varsity basketball team this season.

La Conner will employ a short roster to begin its pursuit of a tall order when head coach Scott Novak’s charges tip off their 2021-22 campaign in earnest tonight (Wednesday) at Lynden.

In 2020 the team placed second in the state’s 2B Hardwood Classic. It was runner-up in this year’s small school summer state tourney in Mount Vernon.

The much-anticipated Dec. 1 non-league clash with the 1A Lady Lions gets under way following a 5:40 p.m. junior varsity contest. It marks La Conner’s first step on a three-month mission to capture the program’s first-ever state championship.

While the Lady Braves will suit up just eight players to open the season, fans can take heart knowing that in this case quality trumps quantity.

Five of Skagit County’s top 15 scorers from last spring’s modified girls’ hoops season are in its starting lineup, including the area’s top point producer in Josie Harper.

Harper, a 5’-10” junior guard-forward, scored at a 16 points per game clip last spring when La Conner posted a stellar 13-1 mark, losing only to 2A Burlington-Edison.

Harper will be joined by 5’-7” senior guard-forward Sarah Cook (13.2 ppg), 6’-0” junior forward Ellie Marble (12.8 ppg) and the senior backcourt tandem of Juna Swanson (8.8 ppg) and Carroll College signee Rachel Cram (10.6 ppg).

The 5’-5” Swanson, La Conner is a premier playmaker. Swanson recorded nearly 100 assists during the limited spring schedule.

Versatile 5’-6” senior guard Aubrie Sloniker returns as well, along with promising newcomers Kennedy Miller and Ellalee Wortham.

Both Miller, a 5’-8” junior and the 5’-7” Wortham provide added depth at the guard and forward spots. Though just an eighth grader, Wortham has played extensively with summer travel teams, said Novak.

As the season progresses, Novak told the Weekly News he expects to add junior varsity prospects to the mix.

For now, well, eight is enough.

“It’s a good rotation,” said Novak, “but we’ll probably have 11 at some point.

“We have an extremely skilled team,” he stressed. “These players have put in the time. It’s not by accident that they’re very good players.”

Those players, by design, will be tested this winter. In addition to Lynden, Novak has penciled in non-conference dates with larger schools Burlington-Edison, Stanwood, Kamiak, Meridian and Skyline to supplement the league NW2B matchups.

“It’s a very challenging non-league schedule,” Novak said. “We could drop a few games, but we feel that playing teams from the bigger schools will make us better in the long run. We want to improve every day because our goal is to win a state championship.”

When La Conner hits on all cylinders, it will be due in large measure because Novak and his staff – assistants Lynette Cram, Anna Cook, Jesse Edwards and Dustin Swanson – are able to employ interchangeable parts to keep things humming along.

“Our kids can play different positions,” Novak said. “We don’t have a lot of size, other than Ellie, but we have players like Sarah and Josie who can play in the post when needed.”

La Conner players are likewise adept at facing the basket and scoring off the dribble, plus handling backcourt pressure, said Novak.

“They just know how to play the game,” he said. “A lot of that is because they’ve put in the time to work at getting better.”

The team will look to play at a quick pace, falling back upon a pass-oriented half-court motion offense when unable to score in transition.

“We have high expectations,” said Novak. “This is a seasoned, veteran team. We just have to avoid injuries and stay healthy.”

Coming off a pre-season jamboree last week that also headlined Arlington, Marysville-Getchell and Lynden Christian, Novak certainly has a healthy view of his team’s chemistry and motivation going forward.

“This team,” he said, “is a coach’s dream. These are great kids. They’re a lot of fun to be around. They’re competitive and they work hard. They set goals and work to achieve those goals.”