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Talawanda triumphant together

Team-first philosophy a catalyst in Braves’ 5-game winning streak.

Talawanda head girls basketball coach Kim Richter talks with her squad during a timeout in Saturday's Fort Ancient Valley Conference game against Ross at Talawanda High School. Staff photos by Nick Daggy

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Talawanda head girls basketball coach Kim Richter talks with her squad during a timeout in Saturday's Fort Ancient Valley Conference game against Ross at Talawanda High School. Staff photos by Nick Daggy

ENLARGE PHOTO

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Talawanda's Bristyl Webb drives to the basket past Ross' Kaitlyn Pennekamp during Saturday's game.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Talawanda's Bristyl Webb drives to the basket past Ross' Kaitlyn Pennekamp during Saturday's game.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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1:09 AM Wednesday, January 18, 2012

By Jay Morrison

Staff Writer

OXFORD — The first few times first-year Talawanda High School girls basketball coach Kim Richter met with her new players, she loved what she saw. But not so much what she heard.

The word “me” tended to come up a whole lot more than “we,” and Richter immediately set out to change that.

The girls not only understood the philosophy, they embraced it, which is a big reason why the Braves are 9-4 overall and 5-1 in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference West Division, just one game behind Winton Woods.

“The girls really started caring about each other,” said Richter, who had been the head coach at Cincinnati Christian the previous three years. “You could see they weren’t just going out there for themselves. They’re working hard for each other.”

Talawanda lost its season opener by 20 points to Milford, but immediately after the game Richter kept the focus on the positive, and on each other by continuing a tradition she started at CCS.

“After the game each player stands up one at a time and says one thing about somebody else on the team and what they did well during the game,” Richter said. “They focus on encouraging one another, and that really helped us to grow.”

Still, the Braves staggered to a 4-4 start.

That’s when Richter decided it was time for her to practice her own team-first philosophy by juggling the starting lineup. In the last six games, the Braves have yet to start the same five players in back-to-back games.

And they’ve won five in a row using that tactic.

“We’ve got a solid seven or eight girls who can perform on the court without the level of play going down,” Richter said. “Sometimes the starters depend on how they play in practice, sometimes it’s just a matter of whose turn it is.”

While the Braves are well represented atop the league’s offensive stat board — sophomore Ana Richter is fourth in scoring (12.1 points per game), second in rebounding (9.4 rpg) and second in field-goal percentage (53.5), and junior Bristyl Webb is third in assists (3.6) — the biggest reason for their success has been defense.

Talawanda is tied with Winton Woods for fewest points allowed per game at 36.4. Only Eaton broke the 50-point barrier against the Braves in a 52-45 triumph back on Dec. 1. During the current five-game winning streak, THS is allowing just 32.4 ppg.

The Braves will try to make it six in a row tonight at Northwest, a team they beat by 42 earlier in the season. The second showdown with Winton Woods will be next Wednesday on the road.

Focus on girls basketball Talawanda High School

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