Two-time state champs reload for 2024-25 season

With five sophomores from last year's 30-3 squad that include guard Hailey Estrada, forward Myia Collins and center Alyssa Dreessen, this year's squad brings a solid blend of veteran leadership as well as some top-quality, first-year players. 

"I'm really liking this group," OCC head coach Sammy Doucette said. "Each day I feel like they're coming together and everyone is buying into what we are trying to do here. They're really beginning to understand and things are beginning to click. It's a talented group and I think it's going to come down to everyone doing their jobs and being selfless and putting the team concept first."

Doucette's 2022-23 championship squad leaned on small, efficient starting five, while last year's group brought more size and depth into the mix. What does this year's club look like? "I think it's a mixture of both," Doucette said. "We're a bit smaller in numbers like two years ago, but we've got more experience with five sophomores than we did last year."

OCC's post players -- Collins and Dreessen -- will be the focal points of the Pirates' success.  Last year, the duo combined for 12 points and over 13 rebounds per game, but Doucette hopes to see numbers close to that on EACH player's stat sheets and this duo has made big steps towards doing just that. In the season opener against No. 13-ranked Victor Valley, Coast topped the Rams, 69-51 and they were led by Collins (24 points, nine rebounds) and Dreessen (18 points, 18 rebounds.).

"If Alyssa and Myia can do their thing and play well, that will not only enable some quality looks down low, but it will also free up our guards, who can hit 3-pointers and create more scoring opportunities," Doucette said. "Alyssa is capable of putting up solid numbers for us this year. She's more confident in her game this year and if we keep feeding her down low, she'll only get better. Myia is a player that can do everything for us. She can work down low, she can hit 3's, she can drive. She's a tough matchup. If she can stay out of foul trouble, she can be one of the top players in the state. I really believe that."

OCC's other tri-captain along with Collins and Dreessen is Estrada, who came off the bench for Coast last year and put up solid numbers (6.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals per game), but with more playing time, her leadership will be key to OCC's success. "I see her as our point guard and one of our top leaders," Doucette said. "She's going to be our floor general who will create opportunities for others, while at the same time, being able to get looks for herself as well. Her strength on the floor IS her strength."

As for Doucette's freshman top trio of Zoie Lamkin, Kayla Borgelt and Melaiah Joseph, they will see immediate action and plenty of playing time with just a nine-player roster.

"Zoie played on Kobe Bryant's Mamba team and she brings that fierce competitiveness to the floor," Doucette said of Lamkin. "She doesn't show a ton of emotion, but she puts in the extra work to make herself better every day. She's super-fast and she's gaining more confindence."

On Borgelt, Doucette said. "I've got high expectations for Kayla because I think she's got amazing potential. She's got one of the highest basketball IQs on the team and she's adjusting to the college level of basketball well. I push her hard and she wants to be pushed. She's a gritty competitor and a good shooter for us."

On Joseph ... "This kid has all of the potential in the world. She has the tools to be a starter for us this year and once she completely buys in to what we are trying to accomplish, the sky is the limit to what she can do. We are super-lucky to have her and I'm excited to see her reach the abilities that we all know she has."

Adding experience and depth to this squad are sophomore returners Xio Cardona and Kiley Esajian, who will bring that selfless attitude to this year's program, just like they did last year. "They are completely bought in and they know their roles," Doucette said. "They are great kids and our team loves them. You need players like this who will do what is needed to help the team be successful."

Another "X-factor" for the Pirates is on the coaching staff with the addition of assistant coach Cassie Klockgether, who comes to OCC after moving on as the Director of Operations for the UC Irvine women's basketball program. "We are so fortunate and happy to have Cassie with us," Doucette said. "She brings D-1 experience and I'm so excited to have her join our already-great staff of coaches. She really brings joy and a great energy to our practices and games, which has been great to see."

After starting 2-1 for the season with wins over Victor Valley and No. 3-ranked Moorpark (71-62), the Pirates will play at Citrus on Wednesday (5 p.m.) and at No. 4 Mt. San Antonio on Nov. 13 (6 p.m.), before their first home game of the season on Nov. 20 against Mt. San Jacinto, beginning at 5 p.m.