By Chris Parker
Shawn Johnson takes over as head coach of the Southwest girls basketball team this season. He served as an assistant the past two seasons.
“I got into teaching to be a basketball coach and gradually moved to softball. I was the assistant coach the past two years and the opportunity to be the head coach came and was asked if I wanted the opportunity to be the head coach and I accepted,” Johnson said.
He takes over a program coming off a two-win season. Defense is where the turnaround will start for Southwest.
“I’m hoping our biggest strength will be our defense,” Johnson said. “We need to improve our outside shooting to help open things up for Jaretsi (Quintanilla) on the inside.”
Quintanilla will be the team leader as a senior. She averaged 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks per game last season.
“She was first-team all-district and all-conference last year. She is our go to on the inside, but she has been working to extend her game. We look for her to be our leader on and off the floor,” Johnson said.
Sophomores Addy Payne, Gracie Swanepoel and Olivia Hnem also return.
Freshman Sydney Roe will be the starting point guard.
Southwest opens the season Nov. 23-27 at the Verona Tournament.
“I want to see our team improve each and every day and to be playing our best basketball at the end of the season,” Johnson said. “We finished our last game with only five players after starting with only eight, but we did finish. We currently have 15 who will be playing this season so that will help with the competitiveness on our team.”
