Calabasas still searching for what it takes to win in league
Girls' basketball team started hot, but has struggled with Marmonte foes
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers GETTING BETTER- Calabasas High team captain Danielle Ploussard, left, tries to get around Victoria Wei during practice Monday evening at CHS. After losing big in their first two Marmonte League games, the Coyotes have been more competitive of late.

This season the Calabasas High girls' basketball team has a new head coach and many players learning new positions. Unfortunately for the Coyotes, the team is still at the bottom of the Marmonte League standings.

With coach Don Cusick at the helm, the Coyotes started their season strong, winning nine of their first 13 games. The nine wins matched last year's total, when the team went 9-17 under Stan Whited and finished in seventh place in league.

Once league play began, however, the team struggled. Prior to Wednesday's game at Newbury Park High, CHS had lost six straight games to put its record at 9-10 overall and 0-6 in league.

"We were playing well early in the season, but once league started it became a little more intimidating for us," senior Danielle Ploussard said. "Our attitude is still good on this team, and in our recent league games the score has been a lot closer."

After losing its first two league contests to Royal and Newbury Park by an average of 33 points, Calabasas lost close games to Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Moorpark.

"One thing I've learned in my first year as head coach in this league is that the other head coaches are very good," Cusick said. "You better be able to mix it up and make adjustments or else they will.

"In our loss to Simi Valley, we were in control the whole game until the fourth quarter. I take full responsibility for that loss because I didn't make any adjustments. In a way, I'm kind of learning on the job."

Cusick isn't the only one learning on the fly, as many Coyotes are playing out of position to help the team.

Ploussard, usually a center, has played the forward position to make room for senior Emily Cohen at center. Senior Michelle Fassberg, the team's point guard, has been ill with a bronchial infection. In her place, junior Danielle Kleiman has handled the pointguard duties along with junior Haley Meadows.

"It's pretty hard learning to play all these new positions, but it's not as hard as it could have been," Ploussard said.

"Our team is very close, and everyone helps each other out. The senior centers are helping the sophomore centers; the senior guards are helping the junior and sophomore guards."

Although the Coyotes have struggled, there have been a few bright spots. Meadows, in her first year on the varsity squad, is leading the team in points (15.7 per game), assists (72) and steals (49).

"The only reason why (Meadows) hasn't been on the varsity team prior to this season is because we had three senior starting guards last year that were four-year varsity players," Cusick said. "We felt it would be best to keep her at the lower level and play her as much as possible. She has a real presence on the floor and has the ability to take the ball to the rack real well."

Meadows was going to be brought up to the varsity squad halfway through her sophomore season, but she injured her elbow a week before her call-up.

"It was horrible," Meadows said. "I was devastated when that happened. To come that close to making the team and have that happen was really tough on me. At the same time, it got me to work real hard on my game in the offseason, especially on my dribbling."

Another player having a stellar season for CHS is Ploussard. The senior is leading the team in rebounds per game (7.2) and is second in points (9.5).

"Ploussard has played great in the post for us," Cusick said. "She just rips rebounds off the boards. She's a great shooter, too. She hit about six 18-footers in our win against Oakwood."

The rest of the Calabasas squad includes seniors Gabby Rogers, Sydney Adams, Jenna Tamkin and Brooke Israel, along with juniors Katie Burris, Monica Zak, Jasmine Johnson, sophomore Ashley Oliver and freshman Victoria Wei.