Experienced Lady Rams expect adjustment period under new coach

CMI sports writer

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The Portales Lady Rams bring back almost everyone from last year’s 21-7 squad that reached the Class 3A state quarterfinals.

Still, there’ll be some adjusting as Wade Fraze takes over the program for Clay Stout, who was the team’s coach the past six seasons.

“They’ve had that varsity experience,” Fraze said of his squad, which is slated to open the season against Sundown in a 9:30 a.m. (MST) quarterfinal game today in the Denver City Shootout. “The difference is they’re trying to learn a new program in two weeks.”

link Tony Bullocks: Clovis Media Inc.

First-year Portales coach Wade Fraze believes in adjusting the team’s style of play to the personnel.

Only guard Hannah Cissell was lost to graduation from last year’s squad, which bowed out against eventual Class 3A champion and District 4-3A rival Lovington in last year’s state quarterfinals. PHS has picked up senior forward Simone Laurenz, a key member of the Lady Rams’ volleyball and softball teams who hasn’t played basketball since her freshman year.

Stout’s teams have almost always played a deliberate style, shortening the game and relying on their defense to help pull out close, low-scoring contests. Fraze said the Lady Rams will likely be a bit more uptempo this year.

“There’s not a right way or a wrong way to do it,” he said. “You just adjust your style to the personnel and to what fits your kids.

“I think the best teams can play any style. If you’re limited to (playing) one way, that usually hurts you.”

Seniors Francis Armijo and Savannah Vincent and sophomores Sheraya Cox and Kambrey Blakey were regular starters with Cissell last year, but several others also saw regular duty.

“We like playing with each other,” said Vincent, a 5-foot-10 forward. “I think we’ll be good; we only lost one player (from last year). We’re really pretty much the same (team).”

Vincent thinks the Lady Rams may hit the gas pedal a little harder this season. She said the team intends to dictate the pace of the game.

“If people play fast, we’re going to play our game,” she said. “If they play slow, we’re still going to play our game.”

Fraze, who has had previous head coaching experience at Dora, Seagraves, Texas, and Sterling City, Texas, said it may take the players a while to adjust.

“We have a lot of experience, but there’s going to be a learning curve with any coaching change,” he said. “It’ll be a process.

“One thing I’m pleased with and proud of is the quality of kids we have here. Their chemistry is second to none, and they’re a joy to be around.”

Roster

No. Name Yr.

10 Bailey Schillings So.

11 Francis Armijo Sr.

12 Bailey Rowley So.

14 Sheraya Cox So.

20 Amanda Schmidt So.

21 Brittany Gonzales Jr.

22 Brooke Lopez Jr.

23 Kambrey Blakey So.

24 Kacie Terry Sr.

30 Kaycee Leary So.

31 Simone Laurenz Sr.

33 Savannah Vincent Sr.

34 McKenzie Bucksath Jr.

Coach: Wade Fraze (1st year).

Schedule

December

5-7 — at Denver City tournament (5 vs. Sundown, 9:30 a.m.); 12-14 — at Moriarty Invitational (12 vs. Bernalillo, 3 p.m.); 20 — LV Robertson, 5:30 p.m.; 21 — West Las Vegas, 3 p.m.; 26-28 — at Littlefield tournament, TBA.

January

10-11 — Portales Shoot Out, TBA; 16 — at Roswell High, 7 p.m; 21 — at Clovis, 7 p.m.; 24 — Texico, 5:30 p.m.; 25 — at Moriarty, 4:30 p.m.; 31 — at Roswell Goddard, 7 p.m.

February

4 — at Texico, 6 p.m.; 7 — Ruidoso, 5:30 p.m.-x; 11 — Lovington, 5:30 p.m.-x; 18 — at Lovington, 5:30 p.m.-x; 21 — at Ruidoso, 5:30 p.m.-x.

All times MST. x-Denotes District 4-3A games.