Cleveland girls prepare for season with new coach

The Cleveland High School girls basketball team could be found in Thunderdome gymnasium putting in work for next season Tuesday.

“The main focus of the off season was to get our new style down, which is to run the floor and push the tempo and then pull the ball out to run a secondary offense. Our main offensive focus is on getting the ball inside first and then looking to score. We also really wanted to focus on confidence and not being afraid to make mistakes as long as the players learn from those mistakes,” coach Stacy Pokorski said in an email.

In April, Pokorski was officially named head coach, succeeding the long-tenured Susan Kubala, who coached Cleveland for 10 seasons.

“We are also finding that team chemistry and trying to have the mentality to give up good shots for great shots,” junior Malia Mose said. “This is the time to make mistakes and learn.”

Mose plays shooting guard and point guard and hopes to continue to increase her play speed as she comes off of injury from the previous season.

Pokorski’s group of players went through rebounding drills, dribbling drills, ball movement 4-on-4s and pickup game reps.

PHOTOS: Cleveland girls basketball summer practice summer 2024

“I definitely want to build up more confidence and shoot more and communicate with my team more and be vocal,” junior Erin Winters, a point guard, said. “More positivity towards each other, communication and being good teammates toward each other.”

During the pick games, coaches put teams in fast-break situations to see how quickly the girls could recover defensively.

“This is the time to get the rust off and get better,” senior Aubrey Jaramillo, another point guard, said. “This is the team where we prepare for the season; this is the time that we tweak everything. And, this is where we want to work our hardest. So, when it comes to in-season play, it’s easy.”

She is another player who is coming off of an injury, having an ankle surgery in March.

As the games progressed, one thing was apparent: the girls had each other’s backs. When players made mistakes, their teammates were there to pick them back up, high five them or just keep them focused on the next possession.

“My philosophy as a coach is to focus on encouraging players to play hard, have a good attitude, be coachable and to be a good teammate. I plan to spend a lot of time enforcing this during basketball class and open gyms in the fall. I also believe in using our strengths each year to build around our playing styles. This year I really hope to use our speed and size to our advantage,” Pokorski said.

Pokorski is tasked with working with a young group of girls who are coming off of a 14-15 record and a state appearance as the 13th seed.

“The people of Rio Rancho can expect a very different style of play this season. I hope to build off the defense and discipline these players have but also add an increased tempo to our game and getting more shots up,” Pokorski said.