There is more good news for the fast-starting Westminster High girls basketball team.
Sophomore center Jill Ibex said she is willing to concentrate on playing defense, blocking shots, rebounding and getting the ball to high-scoring Beth Lister.
"I like defense best for now," said Ibex, 5-foot-11 3/4 . "I also like to block shots. On offense, if Beth is open, I'll pass the ball to her. When Beth and Cassie [Conklin] graduate, hopefully I'll be able to help the team in scoring more."
Ibex is averaging eight points, 15 rebounds, 4.5 assists and two steals for the 2-0 Owls. She scored only three points in a 65-37 victory over Sherwood in the season opener but came back with 13 points in a 71-51 rout over Annapolis.
"There are some games I can't do too well on offense," said Ibex. "That's why I prefer defense."
With Lister averaging 25.5 points and Conklin getting 14 points a game, it doesn't really matter how much Ibex scores.
But should opposing teams decide to take seniors Lister and Conklin out of the game offensively, Ibex could make them pay for that strategy. She is strong at posting up, has excellent moves in the middle and knows what to do with the ball once she gets it down low.
"Jill does all the little things in the game it takes to be a really good player," said Westminster coach Bernie Koontz. "She works hard in the off-season, has gone to a lot of good basketball camps, and played on two strong AAU teams the past two years. By playing so much, she is far advanced for a sophomore."
Koontz said it is unusual to have a center averaging 4.5 assists a game.
"You just don't expect that from the post position," he said. "But Jill anticipates things so well and has a knack for getting the ball to Beth if she is open. Jill seems to know what's coming from opposing defenses and contributes so much due to her strong knowledge of the fundamentals of the game."
Ibex and the Owls will be going for their third straight win tonight at home against Centennial.
No one is too surprised that 14th-ranked Westminster is off to a good start, but the margin of victory is surprising.
"We're pretty good," said Ibex. "We work well together and everybody enjoys playing together. Sometimes before a game, we'll go out together and do things."
There are so many offensive and defensive weapons on the team that it is hard to shut them all down.
In addition to Lister, Conklin and Ibex, senior guard Lauren Kadlubowski is an explosive player who can score and find the open person on a fast break.
Sophomore guard Lauren Henry also has played well as has senior guard Sandra Geiman.
And the Owls have that all-important ingredient for any strong basketball team -- a lot of height.
Like Ibex, Lister is 5-11 3/4 . Conklin is 5-9, and Kadlubowski is 5-7.
When Westminster started pressing Sherwood full court at the start of the second half, an exasperated Sherwood guard Teki Williams came off the court and told coach Warren Crutchfield: "They have all those long arms in the air and we can't see a thing."
Ibex's arms are as long as anybody's on the team and she has come a long way since last season.
As a freshman, Ibex was called up to the varsity three games into the season and averaged six points and five rebounds a game as the team's sixth player.
"I feel better about my overall game this season," she said. "But the one thing that bothers me is that I'm not following through on my shots."
Ibex, who also is on the field hockey and track teams, has long since grown used to being one of the tallest girls on any team. She was 5-9 in the eighth grade and has continued to grow.
Ibex has one important asset that probably will help her accomplish her goal of playing collegiately -- she never gets too excited about her achievements.
"I can't remember the good games but I remember my bad games," she said.