As players come and go, the majority of point production for Glenelg's girls basketball team originates from different spots every year.
Two seasons ago, post players Leslie Service and Kristy Moor were the primary scorers.
Last year, All-Metro guard Tanissa Dorsey and second-team Howard County wings Jenny Leedom and Sarah Jones combined for about 40 points each game, leading the Gladiators to the Class 2A state final.
Now, with the scoring trio from the previous year graduated Glenelg is back to relying on inside players. First-year coach Randy Wallenhorst expects a lot from 6-foot center Debbie Snyder and 5-9 forward Carey Ebersberger, both seniors.
The Gladiators have untested guards in junior Christina Flower and sophomore Kim Brown, and Wallenhorst's major concern is feeding the ball inside to players such as Snyder, who the coach predicts will average 15 to 20 points and eight to 12 rebounds.
Without hesitancy, Wallenhorst says the Gladiators are in " rebuilding year." He says a finish in the middle of the county pack is reasonable to expect, naming defending state 2A champion Hammond as the front-runner.
going to be a chore for us to get the ball inside because of a lack of experience in our guards," said Wallenhorst, the girls junior varsity coach at Oakland Mills for three years. "For us to be successful and to score some points, we need to get the ball inside to Debbie Snyder. She's very strong and agile inside."
Wallenhorst says he is confident that Flowers and Brown wil improve with time. Flowers, a soccer player, possesses "incredible quickness," said Wallenhorst, with a weakness in ball-handling. Brought up from the junior varsity, Brown is the team's best outside shooter.
Ebersberger, a scrappy player who boxes out well, and 5-9 senior Dana Hoffman, are co-captains. Hoffman can play guard, small forward or center.
A team without overall great quickness, the Gladiators will rel on a slow-down offense, intending to set up plays inside for Snyder. On defense, Wallenhorst plans on executing a "cautious" man-to-man.
Glenelg has a big team -- center Tricia Kilroy and forwar Jennifer Frank, both 5-11 juniors -- complementing Snyder.
"We don't have great quickness and we need to get other team into a half-court game," Wallenhorst said. "When you lose 40 points a game, it's tough to fill that gap."
Schedule
Dec. 4 at Pallotti 7:30
Dec. 7 North Carroll 5
Dec. 10 Bel Air 5
Dec. 18 Thomas Johnson 5
Dec. 22 Liberty 5
Jan. 4 at Spalding 5:15
Jan. 8 at Glenelg 6
Jan. 13 Hammond 5
Jan. 15 at Atholton 7:30
Jan. 20 at Wilde Lake 3:30
Jan. 22 at Oakland Mills 6
Jan. 29 at Mount Hebron 7:30
Feb. 3 Centennial 5
Feb. 5 at Howard 7:30
Feb. 10 at Hammond 3:30
Feb. 12 Atholton 6
Feb. 16 Wilde Lake 5
Feb. 18 Oakland Mills 7:30
Feb. 23 Mount Hebron 3:30
Feb. 25 at Centennial 6