The Vero Beach High School varsity girls basketball team charged into December after breezing through a perfect November by winning all seven games by an average of just over 21 points. But in the eyes of Head Coach Rahshard Morgan, the 7-0 start was just the warm-up act for the main event.
“It’s early and we have had some successful games starting out,” Morgan said. “But honestly, we are looking down the road. We use these games to prepare for district play and the postseason. We have lofty goals and we want to achieve them.”
District play arrived quickly with a game against Centennial on the Dec. 1. The Fighting Indians have Treasure Coast and Martin County scheduled later this month and face those three district rivals again first thing after the New Year.
By then the picture will be clearer with respect to those lofty goals. The coach was somewhat circumspect in discussing what they might be.
“We have set goals and we do talk about them,” Morgan said. “Some may be individual goals, some may be team goals. That gives us something to shoot for. We will keep our team goals to ourselves and hopefully we can accomplish all of them this year. We just want to be as successful as possible.
“I’ve been coaching the girls basketball team at Vero Beach High for 11 years. I played ball for (current boys varsity head coach) Chuck Loewendick and graduated here in 1995. I definitely know the community, I know the school, and I know what the expectations are at Vero Beach High. We are always striving to meet those expectations.”
While that type of cautious approach is not uncommon for an experienced coach, it didn’t take long for two seniors on the team to help spell out what the goals are.
“Obviously the state championship – that’s what we want,” said Megan Gorman. “That’s what we go for every year. This year we have the pieces in place to do it. We have a really good group and I think we can make a run at it. We are really a close-knit team.”
Gorman will have a say in how far this team goes. Through seven games her 23.1 ppg and 16.4 rpg jumped off the stat sheet.
“I guess I’m putting up big numbers, but part of that is because I have a great team around me. I’m just playing hard and as a senior I know it’s my job to lead the team and do everything I can to help us win. I’m not out there to be a star or anything like that. We really look good but there’s still room for improvement. This should be a really exciting year.”
Point guard Caitlyn Smith is the second leading scorer at 9.9 ppg. She leads the team in assists and is third in steals. This will be her only year on the team after transferring from Sebastian River.
“My job is to control the team and make sure everything is running smoothly,” Smith explained. “I bring the ball down and direct traffic. I try to make sure I’m helping Megan and Kirstin (Fonchum) so there’s not a lot of pressure on them.
“My role is to be the mini-Morgan on the floor. He can’t play for us so I try to make sure that his message gets across and that what he wants out there is getting done.
“We are definitely focused on going to states and winning the championship. We have the talent, focus and will to accomplish that.”
VBHS runs a four-guard offense. Juniors Kourtney Harris and Jordan Wade form the backcourt with Gorman and Smith. The lone forward is sophomore Kirstin Fonchum.
“Our starting lineup is still fluid,” Morgan said. “You want it to be that way. The girls are competing well in practice and individuals are improving.
“On defense we can switch it up. We like to pressure the ball. Our man-to-man help defense is a staple, however we have had a lot of success running our zones and zone presses.
“I teach a lot of things to the girls. They are very intelligent and they can handle it. So when we need a zone or man we can adjust appropriately.
“A little-known fact is that our girls basketball team has been competing for the academic team state championship of girls basketball for the last five years. Academics is a big deal here. I push it and I love it when the girls take their studies seriously.
Morgan’s “gym rat” and “double-double machine” exemplifies what he is talking about.
“I am actually going to go to Yale and play basketball,” Gorman said. “I just decided that recently. I got my letter and it’s pretty much in the bag.”
So this team has two state championships in mind this season – athletic and academic.