<< Previous   of   Next >> Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW  (click to enlarge) Archbishop Murphy's Sam Pettinger (center) shoots a lay-up over teammates during girl's varsity basketball practice Dec. 3 at Archbishop Murphy High School in unincorporated Everett. Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW  (click to enlarge) Archbishop Murphy's Nickole Bartholomew aims for the hoop during drills at girl's varsity basketball practice. Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW  (click to enlarge) Archbishop Murphy's Shelby Lyman (foreground) runs with teammates during drills.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Veterans back for Wildcats

By David Pan
Enterprise Sports editor

The Archbishop Murphy girls basketball team appears poised to make another strong run for a state championship.

The Wildcats, who finished second at the Class 2A tournament last season, return two of the top players in the Cascade Conference in senior guards Sam Pettinger and Shelby Lyman. The two are joined by three other players who saw significant action during the 2008-09 season – senior guard Nickole Bartholomew, senior center Megan Carlson and senior center Savannah Fletcher.

“I think we're going to be a very good basketball team,” said coach John Barhanovich. “I'm very pleased with the work ethic. ... We're pretty experienced.”

The starting five is pretty much set with the seniors. But the supporting cast has yet to be determined.

“What we're trying to do is find a little bit of depth,” Barhanovich said. “We're bringing up some kids.”

This year's team looks to be better offensively and should be able to rebound well.

“I think the points per game will be up,” Barhanovich said.

Barhanovich expects Lyman and Pettinger to lead the team in scoring but the other three players also are threats on offense.

“We can get scoring from five or six kids,” Barhanovich said.

The point guard position will be shared by Lyman, Pettinger and Bartholomew. All three are quite capable.

“We like to run the fast break and do that type of thing,” Barhanovich said. “If any of the three kids have the basketball, we'll be OK.”

The Wildcats play a tough non-league schedule and opened the season with losses to Kamiak and Mercer Island.

What was lacking in those games was the tough defense that has been a Wildcat trademark. The three starters who graduated were strong defensive players.

“That's the one area we're struggling at the moment,” Barhanovich said. “We just haven't been able to replace that part of what I like to do. The No. 1 priority is team defense — the ability to make key stops to win a game.”

Archbishop Murphy has four more non-league games and Barhanovich and his staff plan to continue to work on improving the Wildcats' defense.

“I'm a big believer that you have to play defense,” he said. “There are a number of ways to play defense. Coaches have to find the one that fits.”

Barhanovich favors man-to-man but said he is contemplating playing more zone.

“I'm very happy with the way we've competed,” he said. “I'm excited with what this club can do in the long run.”

Advancing to the state championship game gave a boost to the program. The players came into the season confident.

“The kids we have back in the program believe every time they step out on to the court, they have a chance to win,” Barhanovich said.

So the two losses to open the season were somewhat of a shock to the Wildcats. Last season's success means that other teams will be looking to take Archbishop Murphy down.

“You don't want to step back with the program,” Barhanovich said. “The kids are excited to play the next game and get back on the winning track.”