Bengals finally roar to life

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004 | 8:52 a.m.

When Cathy Sczymarek gave up the head coach's job of Bonanza's girls' basketball team in October to prepare to become the school's new athletic director, new coach Jon Grande was left with his predecessor's 10-year legacy and a young team learning a new system.

After a lukewarm start to the season, which included losses to Basic and Centennial and wins against two struggling teams, Chaparral and Del Sol, Grande got what he called some of the most solid play this season as the Bengals notched a 58-54 win against Palo Verde on Monday at Bonanza.

"It was the first time we came out this year, we came out steady and played four quarters," Grande said. "We played smart basketball for the first time this year. Cathy left the program in good standing, we're starting to get the girls to play together under a little different system."

Under that system, the Bengals have held all but three of their opponents under 40 points this year -- Centennial (which is averaging more than 88 points per game), Durango and now Palo Verde have eclipsed the 40 mark.

Kathy Willinsky, a 5-foot-11 sophomore and a key defensive presence, led the Bengals on Monday with 19 points, including four in Bonanza's breakout third quarter, in which the Bengals outscored Palo Verde 11-3.

Willinsky started as a freshman last year for the Bengals, and is becoming the team's go-to player, Grande said.

"As a sophomore, the team's already looking to her as a leader," Grande said. "As she gains experience, she's going to be a scary player."

Willinsky said she's starting to adapt to being the focal point -- and also defensive target -- of the Bengals' offense.

"I'm learning more, starting to be more aggressive," she said. "Last year, we had a lot of really good players. This year, it's different. The girls are playing more one-on-one and a lot of zone."

But the Bengals still have some kinks to work out. Outrebounded 11-7 in the first half, Bonanza was behind 30-28 at halftime. Even after the third quarter, in which Palo Verde shot 0-for-12 from the field, the Bengals couldn't put the game away. Bonanza's girls committed 10 fouls in the fourth quarter, and 10 of Palo Verde's 22 fourth-quarter points came from the free-throw line.

Palo Verde's Don-nise Coleman was held to eight points in the second half after scoring 11 in the first. Panthers coach Gina Piccolo said Coleman had been under the weather, but credited Bonanza with second-half adjustments against their senior forward.

"They really started to focus on her in the second half," Piccolo said. "We really did ... not our best job. We could have executed on offense. ... I don't think we took advantage of the opportunities coming our way."