By Chris Parker
Stockton girls basketball has a new head coach in Brett Burchett this season.
He was the head coach of the Midway boys basketball program for the past 15 years.
“I have thought about switching over to the girls side for a few years since I have four daughters,” Burchett said. “Stockton had openings that both my wife and I fit. We felt like there are really good people here and it would be a great fit for our family.”
He inherits a program that has posted three straight winning seasons including a 16-10 record last year.
Six players who saw action in at least nine games last season return led by senior Ellie Flora.
Flora is the team’s leading returning scorer who averaged 8.3 points per game last season.
“(Flora is) our top returning player,” Burchett said. “She is a smart player who is very versatile. She can play both inside and out. We will look to her to be a leader and a playmaker.”
Faith King saw action in all 26 games as a junior averaging 4.3 points per game.
“She (King) is a real quick guard that will set the tone for us on the defensive end of the court,” Burchett said. “She is a pest on the defensive end and she is capable of making plays for us on offense as well.”
Mercedes Rivera played 14 games as a junior.
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“(Rivera) is an athletic post that can guard multiple positions and finishes well around the basket,” Burchett said.
Raelyn Henderson scored 3.5 points per game as a freshman.
“(Henderson) got a lot of valuable varsity experience last year,” Burchett said. “She will be our point guard. We expect her to push the tempo and get us in our offense. She is also a good defender with high motor.”
Carli Burchett, no relation to Coach Burchett, will be a post player that provides size and strength inside in her junior year. Karista Algiere is a junior who works hard and provides length in the post to help with rebounding.
Coach Burchett’s daughter Kila will play for Stockton in her senior year. She was a two-year starter and three-year letterwinner at Midway.
Freshmen HayLeigh Burres and Taly Bock will look to make immediate impacts.
“(Burres) is an athletic and skilled player that can score. She will have a chance to be one of our top scorers and playmakers,” Coach Burchett said. “She is a tough-minded defender who is not afraid to take charges. She will provide quality depth at the guard spot.”
The team has strong chemistry and will have to work as a team to overcome a lack of size.
“I feel like we have a really good group of girls that will play hard and compete every game. We have several girls that can make plays. I believe this will be an unselfish group that will move the ball well,” Burchett said. “We do not have the tallest group of girls so rebounding is something that we will need to improve upon. In basketball you have to score to win. So, finding consistent ways to score will be a key for us.”
Stockton opens the season Nov. 20-22 at the Fair Play Tournament.
“I hope we will be a team that is known for how hard we play,” Coach Burchett said. “We may not be the tallest or most talented, but we are going to play with a lot of energy and compete every game.”
