By Richard Carrier
Contributing Writer

Strength, speed and a conditioning regimen designed so that “we know we are in better shape and stronger than any teams we play,” are the cornerstones of one of the most successful athletic programs in Powhatan County, the Powhatan Junior High School Girls Basketball Team.

The PJHS girls have just completed their fourth consecutive undefeated regular season compiling a remarkable 57-2 record during that period.

The 15 6th, 7th and 8th graders and three managers (the managers practice with the team) who take the practice floor five afternoons a week range from the 4’7” Sam Rogan to the just-nudging-six feet, Timesha Morris.

All have developed a skill-set foreign to most grass-roots programs.

The girls come through a rigorous try-out, but with minimal, if any, basketball skills and into Coach Mike Ford’s fundamentals of basketball program.

First of all, in a program that has become known for its transition offense and a smothering man-to-man defense designed to challenge every pass and every dribble, “you have to have speed to make this team,” Coach Ford said.

Then comes the conditioning and instruction in the fundamentals of the game.

But Coach Ford’s definition of fundamental basketball skills far exceeds the normal development of dribbling, passing and shooting skills. A typical practice starts with stretching, followed by individual agility drills, moving the ball around the head, body and through the legs, and 30 push-ups.

“If they don’t do them right, they do them again,” Coach Ford said. Then its on to dribbling drills that challenge the skill levels of the better high school players.
Every player can dribble through her legs, with either hand. Dribbling behind the back, cross-overs and spin moves — again with either hand — are gracefully executed as the girls move down the court. The entire sequence lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Coach Ford does recognize that he has been blessed by a substantial crop of good athletes coming through his program. Their athleticism has often been developed through softball’s travel programs. “We have about 10 girls on the team now who play travel softball,” he said.

This athleticism and the developed basketball skills are certainly huge factors in compiling such an impressive record, but the execution of the coaching staffs’ philosophy; Ford is assisted by Libby Acampora and Team Captains Addie Johnson and Allison Etheridge.

The PJHS girls are committed to their defensive pressure creating turn-overs and easy transition baskets. “This year’s team is better athletically,” Ford said, “but the key to winning the [Southside Middle School Conference Basketball] tournament will be defense.”

PJHS plays all fifteen girls in every game, which facilitates their constant full-court pressure. “We press until we get up by 20 points,” Coach Ford said “and expect to score at least five baskets off of that pressure. And on offense we’re going to run.”

The balance of the roster seeking their second SMSCB tournament victory in the past four years includes Becca Ford, Kaitlin Adams, Maddie Hutchison, Amelia Thomas, Monteria Johnson, Ryan Kirtner, Kaleigh Amorese, Rayven Brown, Hannah Blair, Casey Fanz and Nicole Nee.

Team Managers are Rhyan Adams, Maddie Lyndsay and Lauren Ratliff.

Alumnae of the PJHS program include Powhatan High School’s varsity standouts Hannah Livermon and Hana Akersveen-Davis and the majority of the girls on this year’s undefeated junior varsity team at PHS.

The girls at Powhatan Junior High host the SMSCB Championship rounds on Friday Feb. 5 and Saturday Feb. 6.