Girls Basketball: El Camino Has New Coach, Winning Tradition

Last season for the girls basketball team was one of the best in school history with a 29-3 record, another Capital Athletic League title and longtime coach Bill Baxter's 600th win.

Fast forward to this season and Baxter has left to become an assistant at Sacramento State, with Rich Drawbert as the new coach at El Camino. At 13-3 the Eagles have lost as many games as all of last season but are still ranked No. 4 in the area by The Sacramento Bee, entering league play.

"We're trying to continue the tradition; Coach Baxter's time had 20 league championships... and three consecutive Division II state championships," Drawbert said. "For me, it's like we're starting fresh."

El Camino has won the Gridley Lady Bulldog and Del Oro tournaments.

"We've all kept up the intensity," said junior Courtney Brignac, one of three Eagles co-captains along with seniors Alexis Haffner and Jade Sowell-Hundon. "I think Coach (Drawbert) is leading us to a good record and we have pretty good team speed."

Drawbert said his captains lead the Eagles into battle every game.

"Courtney is an extremely fast lady," he said. "(Haffner) is one of our main rebounders and scorers and Jade is one of our best three-point shooters and she drives exceptionally well."

Sophomores Simone Sheppard and Alexis Price round out the starting five.

"Simone is a scorer and can be a force inside when she wants to be," Drawbert said. "Alexis is another rocket; she's got speed to burn and is a great defender."

Drawbert said that while the starters are solid, he's still looking to find a stronger unit off the bench.

The start of league play matches the two best teams on Friday when El Camino is at No. 6 Antelope. The Eagles host a rematch on Feb. 2.

"I think we match up well," Drawbert said. "We're quicker."

Also on the schedule is , at Rio on Jan. 27 and at EC on Feb. 16.

"Rio is another team we have to look out for," Drawbert said. "They have some good shooters."

How far El Camino goes will depend on part in continuing pretty much the same system Baxter used.

"It's pretty much the same offense and defense as last year," Haffner said. "If we do as well as we did in the preseason, hopefully we win out and go strong into the playoffs."

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