The Malibu High girls basketball team began official practices for the upcoming season on Wednesday; however, the squad has been working hard in preparation for its 2017-18 season for more than a month.
The Sharks played in a fall basketball league from mid-September to late October in the Valley and have been working out twice per week at the high school since school began.
Malibu coach Andy Meyer said the group played well in the basketball league at AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School in Canoga Park and has been working hard in conditioning sessions after school. Meyer said the team has been giving 100 percent effort.
“That is what I expect out of them,” he said.
Malibu junior frontcourt player Amelia “Pip” Goudzwaard said the conditioning work included running on the track and working out in the weight room.
“I could see everyone getting stronger,” she said. “It will pay off in games.”
Malibu concluded its season last February with a 6-20 record. The bunch was a young team composed of one senior and a bevy of freshmen and sophomores. The Sharks are a year older now, but still young. Instead of ninth and 10th graders, the team is dominated by sophomores and three juniors.
“We are still going to be very young, but hopefully with a year of experience we will be that much more ready to play,” Meyer said. “Experience is the most important thing to have.”
Goudzwaard, one of three returning Sharks who received Frontier League recognition last season, said that experience has led to more aggression, confidence and improved skills on the court.
“In our fall league, we were more aggressive than last year,” the 16-year-old said. “With our improving ability and skills, we are gaining more confidence.”
Meyer said the group has a higher level of “basketball maturity,” meaning the Sharks know how to run plays better and know what to do in certain situations of games.
“It’s just refining it now,” he said. “I don’t have to teach them from the very beginning.”
Malibu lost three players from last year’s team—including Frontier League first-team member Sophie Beauvoir, 2016 graduate—but still returns a core group highlighted by Goudzwaard, a Frontier League second team member, and Frontier League honorable mentions sophomore Chole Dyne and junior Grace Stickney-Prakasim. There is also junior Ava Norrell and sophomore Erin Muldoon.
Norrell, Goudzwaard and Stickney-Prakasim are Malibu’s oldest players, so Meyer said he is expecting them to lead by example or with their words to younger Sharks.
“I have mentioned it to a few of them already,” he said.
Malibu’s season begins the week of Nov. 27 in a tournament at Viewpoint School in Calabasas. Hoops fans have a few chances to meet the girls before their first game, though. The Sharks and Meyer will run in this weekend’s Malibu 5K. The troupe will also, along with the Malibu boys basketball team, hold a scrimmage and fan event on Nov. 17 in the high school gym.
The boys team will conduct several activities, including a slam dunk contest and team scrimmage. The girls team will also hold a team scrimmage, but with an illuminated and colorful twist. The gym lights will be turned off and the girls will play with a glow-in-the dark basketball. The gym’s two hoops will be adorned with glowsticks, as will the players.
“It will be a fun thing to watch,” Meyer said. “A basketball game in the dark.”
Goudzwaard said the whole team is excited about hitting buckets in a highlighted rim.
“I hope people come out to support,” she said.
Meyer said one thing fans will notice about the Sharks—whether the lights are on or off in the gym—is that the Sharks will work harder than their opponents.
“They are always going to play their hardest no matter what the score is,” he said. “Whether they are up by a lot, or down by a lot hopefully you won’t be able to tell by the effort they are giving.”
Goudzwaard said Malibu is ready for the season to tip off and fans should check them out. The 11th grader said all the lounges, sit-ups, toe taps and running Malibu did doing conditioning sessions will pay off.
“It feels so good to run out on the court with your team and try to win,” she said. “We are ready to fight and win, so come support.”
