During their first 16 games, the Culver City High School girls basketball team has been searching for a leader. 

Last season the Lady Centaurs had two leaders who guided them to a third straight Ocean League title and a CIF championship. 

In this new year, the Lady Centaurs have found a young woman to take charge, Kailey Tooke.

Last week Tooke led the Lady Centaurs to two Ocean victories that put Culver City in first place. 

Coach Julian Anderson is happy his junior star has stepped into the leadership circle.  “She has the confidence to get the ball and do something with it,” Anderson said.  “More impressive is that she is actually clapping for the ball, asking for the ball, demanding the ball, wanting the basketball.  I like that first. Everything else will take care of itself.”

At .500

The Lady Centaurs, 9-9, are thrilled to get back on the winning track after losing seven out of eight last month. “It feels good to start building their confidence back to a higher level,” said Anderson.  “It’s good to see them get their rhythm back and see them having fun again.  We are getting stops that we need to get and we are scoring points.”

Culver City has won an incredible 32 Ocean League games in a row over a four-year span.

Losing all of those non-league games last month keeps Anderson grounded.  “I am not one of those coaches who had success his entire career,” he said. “I have been on both sides of the street.

“Losing gets me back to my roots when I started coaching, back to the basics, working hard, teaching fundamentals.  I love coaching and developing talent and watching kids grow.  That brings me back to life.” 

The Lady Centaurs will travel to Hawthorne on Friday and Beverly Hills next Wednesday.  Both games start at 6.

On the Boys’ Side

The boys basketball team is 7-11. They have lost their last five games.  Two main problems are their lack of size and the tendency to fall into shooting slumps.  It’s hard to win games when you lack size and your shots are not going in. 

“When our shots are not falling, sometimes that affects our defense,” said Coach Adam Eskridge.  “It’s part of the growth process. When things don’t go your way, you can’t get upset.  You have to stay focused and keep playing hard.”

The young Centaurs are having trouble playing a complete game.  “In our last four games, we have had one bad quarter each time,” said Eskridge. “That’s killing us.  We need to be consistent.”

The boys basketball team will travel to Hawthorne on Friday and Beverly Hills next Wednesday.  Both games are at 7:30.

Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com