With a lack of height and a relatively inexperienced roster, new
Live Oak High varsity basketball coach Richard Silva has a simple
plan. He wants his team to run its opponents off their feet.
With a lack of height and a relatively inexperienced roster, new Live Oak High varsity basketball coach Richard Silva has a simple plan. He wants his team to run its opponents off their feet.
“We’re hoping to push the ball up the court when we can, to run-and-gun when we can,” Silva said. “We’ll run a full-court press and half-court traps. We’re looking for easy baskets off transition.”
The first-year coach takes over a program that has struggled to win in the last few years and he plans to take aim at changing that this season.
“We need to have confidence when we go up against other teams,” Silva said. We’ll have good days and we’ll have bad days but we have to have confidence no matter what.”
Live Oak will get the chance to show off its new look in its season-opener at home against Oak Grove today at 5:30 p.m.
Only five returning players are back from last season’s varsity squad that compiled a 5-16 overall record (0-10 in the Tri-County Athletic League).
They include: all-league honorable mention Melissa Llanes, a 5-foot-9 senior who will play center this season; Ruth Dominguez, a senior point guard who is entering her third varsity season; Elena Guevara, a senior forward; Amanda Lytle, a junior guard; and Dana Cline, a senior forward.
Top newcomers include senior guard Megan Smart, junior guard Valerie Simspon, junior center Christina Rodriguez and sophomore guard Analise Curley (whose brother Miles was the T-Cal MVP for the Acorn boys last season).
Live Oak also has three freshmen on the varsity roster who could see playing time.
Silva admitted the team has room for improvement, but said he sees it happening.
“When I got here, a lot of players didn’t have vision of the whole floor,” Silva said. “I’m starting to see that improving.”
Silva comes from Hollister, where he coached the varsity girls basketball team for four years. He said he felt he was forced out as a result of politics within the Haybaler athletic program.
But he said he’s enthusiastic about the opportunity at Live Oak.
Silva said the team has shown plenty of dedication so far.
“They’ve given me a lot of energy,” Silva said. “I chose Live Oak because it was a challenge. We know what we can build on and there’s nowhere to go but up.”
