Reloaded Pirates looking for another deep state playoff run

COSTA MESA -- After a historic run through the California Community College women's basketball playoffs, the defending state champion Orange Coast College Pirates will have targets on their collective backs for the 2023-24 campaign and for head coach Sammy Doucette, it's a challenge her team is preparing for.

Having lost all five standout players from last year's 32-1 team, the Pirates have reloaded with several top players in all five positions, giving Doucette more than just 1-2 options each game. 

"I think last year, we didn't quite know what we were capable of and our goals reflected that," Doucette said. "This year, we know the level of talent we have. We are deeper and bigger and more athletic than we were last year. But ... we are very young, so we will need to get as much experience as we can during the season and we need to figure out a way to get back to where we want to be."

One player that looks to be a huge contributor to the Pirates is gray shirt returner Ashari Cassell, who witnessed firsthand what was needed to win a state championship and the freshman looks to help provide that leadership on and off the floor. "I am expecting big things from Ashari this year," Doucette said. "She's a three-level scorer who can not only score for us, but she looks for her opportunities to find the open player when her shot isn't available. Her passing ability has really grown in the time she's been here and I can't wait to see what she can do with her opportunity."

While it's true that Coast doesn't have a returning starter from last year's state championship, the Pirates do have a player that played in the big game and that is sophomore transfer Jordan Arreola, who came to OCC from state runner-up Butte College, where she averaged nearly 12 points, three rebounds and three assists per game for the Roadrunners.  In the state semifinals against unbeaten Palomar College, Arreola had 15 points to help Butte to a 60-59 upset win over the Comets to reach the title game. 

"She's been a great addition to our program," Doucette said. "It's been a very smooth transition to a new school and she definitely understands what we are trying to accomplish here."

Another newcomer with community college experience is sophomore transfer Bridgette McIntyre, who comes to Coast after a year at Cerritos College, where she averaged 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game for the Falcons. "She's lights out and I can't wait to see what kind of year she'll have with us," Doucette said of McIntyre, who is the younger sister of last year's OCC standout player, Meghan McIntyre. "Her and Ashari are two of our best defenders and she really gets after it. I think this year will be a great experience for her."

Rounding out the top five are a pair of post standouts ... Alyssa Dreessen and Myia Collins. Dreessen is an athletic 6'1 forward from Riverside's Martin Luther King HS and was a top-level player there, while the 5'11 Collins was team captain and leader at Cypress HS. "These two are going to be studs for us down low," Doucette said. "They're both tall, athletic, they can defend well and they're great finishers near the rim. Both work really hard and I can't wait to see them develop here over the next two years."

The depth of the Pirates brings several more options to Doucette's bag of tricks and two quick options will be guard Chase Dionio and guard Hailey Estrada. Dionio, a Newport Harbor HS graduate, comes to OCC after a year a Bluefield University in Virginia, where she averaged 11.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in nine games played. Estrada was a standout guard at Los Osos HS where she averaged 12 points per game her senior year. "Chase has really picked up her game over the last several weeks and she's become a much more consistent player for us." Doucette said. "Her speed and quickness are her keys to success ... she can get us 6-8 points/game just on transition offense alone. As for Hailey, she's a good decision-maker with the ball, who can shoot very well and comes from a winning program at Los Osos."

In the post, look for the size to continue with forwards India Pines and Makena Ching. The 6'0 Pines came to Coast after a stellar career at Mira Costa HS, while Ching joins the Pirates from Vista Murrieta HS. "Makena is a kid that will be nearly impossible to guard down low," Doucette said. "With India, she's improved so much in our time together. She's 6'0 and athletic who can do lots of things well for us out there."

Perhaps an "X-factor" for the Pirates in 2023-24 will be the play of guard Kiley Esajian, a graduate out of Sierra HS. "She's the glue to this team," Doucette said. "She's just a hard-working kid, who always does the right thing out there for us."

While last year's success came from a healthy dose of Meghan McIntyre and complimentary servings of the other standout Pirate starters, this year's group will need to find its groove as a multiple-player unit. "We will work hard and compete and really work fast on the floor for all four quarters," Doucette said. "We don't have that ONE person where everything flows from, which is fine. We have several players who can be very successful for us. It's still very early, but we are getting there. I'm excited to see how we play against other teams besides ourselves very soon."

The season kicks off for the defending state champs on Thursday night when the Pirates take on L.A. Trade Tech College in the Moorpark College Tournament, beginning at 1 p.m. OCC's home opener will be on Thursday, Nov. 16 against Mt. San Antonio College at 5 p.m. The Mounties are currently ranked No. 1 in the VERY early state rankings, with the Pirates sitting tied for second with Butte. For the record, Coast has more first-place votes than anyone and for Doucette, she can find motivation anywhere. "Honestly, these early polls don't mean anything, but when I see that state poll, sure I see seven first-place votes, but I also see six other voters who didn't think we were No. 1. I guess it's up to us to prove them wrong!"