Jan 23, 2011 (The Modesto Bee - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Greg Bockman knows how to motivate his players, particularly when it comes to attacking the basket for a defensive rebound -- rather than trying to head upcourt too early.
"The offense we're running has four girls on the perimeter and one in the post," said Bockman, in his second year as an assistant at Davis High.
"Everyone likes to be on the perimeter," he noted, "so our rule is the rebounder gets to play outside. You should see the girls go after rebounds." Of course, that's if the Spartans settle into the halfcourt offense. The goal is to create points in transition, beating the defense downcourt for an easy layup or a short jumper.
"It all begins with rebounding," said Bockman, in training to become the Spartans' head coach next year. "The rebound starts the break, creates the tempo." That fast tempo has Davis riding high again -- it struggled while going 20-29 the last two years -- and has the Spartans atop the Modesto Metro Conference. Davis and Modesto are each 4-0 in the MMC and meet next Thursday at Davis.
The Spartans (13-8) remained perfect in the MMC by topping Downey 66-30, racing to a 23-6 lead. Davis' fullcourt pressure stymied Downey from the start, and 5-foot-8 junior forward Tiana Castaneda scored 10 of her 14 points in the opening period -- most of them coming in transition.
With guards Anecia Brown (15 points, five steals), Rosh Ruiz (five steals) and Kacie Bockman (10 points, three steals, seven assists) applying pressure in the backcourt, Downey struggled to set up its halfcourt offense.
"We were scoring more of our points off the pressure," said Bockman, who also got three steals, 16 points and 12 rebounds from 5-10 junior Kelci Haueter.
Pushing the faster pace has done more than just improve Davis' record this season, though, it's given the Spartans an identity.
"We score a lot, but I think we're a good defensive team and we take a lot of pride in that," said Castaneda, averaging 11 points and 10 boards. "Whether it's rebounding or running our press, defense is creating a lot of our offense." While the fast pace is new to Davis -- the Spartans are averaging 60 points a game, after failing to top 50 in any of the previous five years -- it's second nature for the starting five.
Juniors Castaneda, Bockman and Haueter, and seniors Ruiz and Brown play with the Modesto Blast -- and Greg Bockman coaches the Blast. The connection between Castaneda and Brown goes deeper: They've played on the same travel team the last five years.
"There are a lot of advantages, but the big one is that we know what each other is capable of on the court," said Castaneda, one of four players averaging double figures. "It helps because I know where Kacie or Anecia will be for an outlet pass, and that gets our fast break going even faster." Castaneda and 5-10 Haueter (averaging 18 points, 12 boards) provide the power inside, and the backcourt trio of Brown (16 points, seven steals), Bockman (10 points, seven assists) and Ruiz (seven points, four rebounds, four steals) patrol the perimeter and slash inside the key.
"Because we're not tall, we don't want to walk the ball upcourt and rely on a halfcourt offense," Greg Bockman said. "We have five girls who can handle the ball and score, and all our girls can get out and run. It means we're filling the lanes in the break, giving us three or four scoring options when we hit the other end." The Spartans hit their high point in Tuesday's 90-52 win over Johansen, a victory that featured a 32-point second period and a 52-point first half.
"Girls love to play this style because it's exciting and it produces results," said Bockman, whose team has scored 59 or more in nine of their 18 games. "It demands total effort on both ends. You only get that endurance by practicing just as hard as you play." Bockman brought the fast-paced attack when he arrived as an assistant last season, and head coach Joe Ovalle is committed to the philosophy.
"We want to get teams running because we can play at that pace, but it tires out most of the teams we play," said Ovalle, who led Davis to conference titles in 2007 and '08.
The new offensive strategy is just one of the transitions at Davis: Ovalle invited Bockman to join his staff with the hope that he would eventually become the head coach.
"It's a great opportunity for me," said Bockman, who also has 5-3 sophomore daughter Kierra on the varsity. "Davis has had a strong program, so this is a good chance for me to see just how Joe does it all." To see more of The Modesto Bee, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.modbee.com/ . Copyright (c) 2011, The Modesto Bee, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com.
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