There are just seven girls on the varsity basketball team this winter.

At least for now.

The team’s number two and three shooters, Cayla Calderwood and Samantha Pope‚ are on injured reserve and may not be able to play until late December, if then.

Falcon coach Henry Pope and assistant Nate Miller are adjusting to the reality of fewer feet on the hardwood.

“The fast break, bringing more pressure onto the other team’s defense, will work,” Pope said. “We have the speed but not the height without those two key players.”

He’s been spending the last few weeks finding ways to push the ball up court faster to create as many easy, early points as possible.

And there isn’t anyone faster on the court for South Whidbey than Lindsey Newman, last year’s leading scorer, who finished

2007 with 432 points and averaged

21.6 per game. Calderwood was second with

174 points, 9.2 per game, Pope third with

152 points and 6.8 points per game.

Voted this year’s captain by teammates, Newman understands what’s at stake.

“We have a young team, sure, but the chemistry is there,” she said. “And our practices have been focused on what all of us recognize as the problem; a lack of height. But we’ll give it the best we’ve got.”

Pope said the other hurdle is the need to rebound better, then transition as quickly as possible to the offense.

“I demand a lot, as the girls have discovered,” he said. “That’s the way I am; act a little crazy then bear down hard on the fundamentals.”

Pope insists on instilling three primary concepts. The first is discipline, then teamwork, then that sense of chemistry that can take a team to the playoffs.

Despite the odds — only 16 players total and a lack of height — Pope insists he can beat last year’s record of 3-11, last place in the Cascade Conference.

“I take a long look at their sense of urgency in practice, the intensity and ‘living on the edge’ attitude. If they have that, they can do anything,” he said

Pope stresses that practice is all about something called “muscle memory.” It’s knowing what to do and when to do it without having to think about it.

“In other words, more automatic reaction and less thinking,” he said.

“The girls are beginning to trust each other, and me. They need to know they can count on each other to get through the rough spots. They also understand that all of us are embarked on a steep learning curve.”

Pope feels his strength is the interaction he has with his players and his understanding of the fundamentals.

“We’re all here to win, for the team, school and community. But most of all for themselves,” he said.

So far, the team is responding well.

Ashlinn Prosch moved here from Nooksack High School in the summer and is looking forward to the season.

“Coach Pope is funny but he works us hard,” she said. “We’ve been concentrating on which plays work best for us and the fast break; really important since we lack height.”

She said her fellow players have welcomed her and the team was going to the Dairy Queen in Clinton after practice Monday for some bonding.

Pope said the league never gets any easier. Look again for Archbishop Murphy to finish near the top.

“(Archbishop) Murphy has a lot of returning players but I see Sultan and Coupeville surprising a few people,” he said. “Those teams have players who concentrate on basketball all year so they have a clear edge.”

Murphy was undefeated at 14-0 and intends to stay that way this season, but number-two Lakewood lost several key players to graduation.

Pope believes the Falcons can take advantage.

Thursday, the girls travel to Interlake. At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 they welcome Friday Harbor to Erickson Gym for their home opener.

“Their spirit is high and they’re ready to play,” Pope said.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at

221-5300 or sports@southwhidbeyrecord.com.