The girls basketball team (1-1 overall)* defeated Lincoln (1-3 overall)* 72-30 on Nov. 27. The Dons got off to a very strong start and never looked back, scoring over 14 points in each quarter.
They were led by senior point guard Lydia Manu, who had 20 points and six assists. She was assisted by sophomore shooting guard Jordan Beaumont who scored 17 points and sophomore power forward Megan Grant who recorded five points, three assists and four rebounds.
The Dons came out hot, scoring 21 points in the first quarter. Lydia Manu had a strong quarter, scoring 11 of the Dons’ 21 points. She also contributed assists which led to three-pointers by Beaumont and sophomore shooting guard Mabryn Manu.
“Really, we have positionless basketball, not because of desire but because of necessity. Our personnel demands it,” said head coach Sam Manu. “At this level, we are still looking for our five best players. If our five best players are guards, then we will play all guards.”
In the second quarter, they played a tight half-court man-to-man defense which stifled the opposition.
They were led offensively by Beaumont who scored nine of her 17 points. Lydia Manu added four points and a pair of assists while junior shooting guard Lala Lautaimi sank a three-pointer and had a steal and block. The Dons went into halftime with a 23 point lead, 38-15.
In the third quarter, the team added to their lead with another 20 points. Because of their height disadvantage this year, the Dons had to adjust to a half-court man-to-man press instead of the full court pressure they used last year. However, the perimeter defense was so good that Lincoln’s guard couldn’t get the ball into the post as much.
“It’s just a style of basketball that we have,” coach Manu said. “We get out fast and pressure you.”
The Dons were in complete control by the end of the third quarter, ahead 58-24 with no chance for a comeback by Lincoln.
In the fourth quarter, the Dons dominated the glass, racking up nine rebounds, the most in a quarter throughout the game. They combined their solid shooting with physical defense and nominal turnovers, which led to their 72-30 victory.
After a successful run to the Central Coast Section championship last year, the team is set up well for another deep playoff run. Head coach Manu, who has been coaching the varsity girls basketball team for four years, has been working hard to get the girls prepared for the upcoming 2019-20 season.
As the team has lost some height, they will have to adjust their playing style this season.
“This year, we’re a lot shorter due to [an] injury to one of our bigs [Savannah Mapa], who will not be able to play this year,” coach Manu said. “We also graduated a lot of our big post players, tall players.”
The lack of size will certainly play a part in the girls’ style of play, as the Dons have no players above 5 feet 10 inches this year, compared to the four players they had last year.
“Being a small team definitely has some challenges,” Lydia Manu said. “Our posts will have to be even more aggressive when defending bigger and taller [players] in order to make up the difference.”
The run the team had to the CCS championship was a successful moment for them and they will continue that momentum this year. The experience on this team is not a problem, as many have played club together for the San Mateo Suns, and coach Manu believes that the playoff experience they have is a big advantage.
“[The feeling that] I have done it before and not just talk[ed] about it, I’ve actually done it is a big advantage,” coach Manu said. “It’s to the point where we’ve had that experience and it doesn’t feel like oh my gosh, there’s pressure. These girls have felt it before and it’s no big deal.”
As there are no new players this year, the chemistry this team has built will continue to get stronger. Every player is familiar with the system which makes practices run a lot smoother because everyone knows what is expected of them.
“The first couple years, you’re just building the culture,” coach Manu said. “[Now] everybody walks in, everybody pretty much knows what to do, everybody knows the expectations.”
Every player on the team has a team-first approach, which is what led the team to the CCS championship last year. The coaching staff is there to build that type of attitude and culture around the team.
“Our coaches, if we see any cliques, they have to pay for it, they have to run. We just absolutely do not allow that,” coach Manu said. “There is not one person who is better than anybody else.”
The Dons continue their season with a game at King’s Academy (3-2 overall)* on Dec. 12.
