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Fifth-year Rockville girls basketball coach Mark Crichton has been here before: standing in front of a predominantly underclass group with little varsity experience, telling them they can be successful.
He's got proof this time, though. Crichton has rebuilt the Rams program during his tenure, from five wins in 2004 to 14 victories last year. The program is coming off its best season since Rockville went 14-9 en route to the Montgomery 2A/1A Division title in 2000.
Rockville has won more games than it did the previous year in each of the last four years. The bad news is, it has lost 10 players from the group that accomplished that.
The good news is, Crichton still has plenty of returnees to rely on. They include senior guard Jennifer Cordero and 5-foot-7 senior forward Sara Sousa. In addition, 5-9 senior forward Tiara McDonald transferred in from Sherwood to add to the ranks.
"It's always important to recognize where you come from," Crichton said. "Even though there are losses along the way, the girls know we've been here before, we've struggled before. You've just got to keep on plugging away and making adjustments. … The big question mark is how the younger players are going to respond."
The Rams have been guard-oriented in the past, concentrating on their overall team. But despite their inexperience, they're more multifaceted this winter.
Cordero will handle the ball for Rockville; she'll be the playmaker and go-to standby on the perimeter. But the Rams will also be able to pound the ball inside to Sousa, a four-year varsity member at Rockville, and McDonald, powerful and athletic.
"I just want us to improve each and every day," Crichton said. "I don't want us to make the same mistakes twice. I think this could be a successful team because it's a very coachable group."
Location: Rockville
Nickname: Rams
Head coach: Mark Crichton, 5th year (38-45)
State classification: 2A
Last year's record: 14-7
Last regional title: 1987 (2nd)
Last state title: 1987 (1st)
Players to watch: G Jennifer Cordero, F Tiara McDonald, F Sara Sousa