Gig Harbor girls basketball looks to get back in the groove of championship play

There is a lot of ‘new’ this year for the Gig Harbor Girls basketball program. There’s a new head coach, new philosophy and even new players on the varsity team.

However, there’s still one constant for the Tides and that is their drive to win and make it back to the state playoffs. And first year head coach Mike Guinasso is confident his players can do that.

“We got a new system this year since it’s my first year and a lot of new stuff going in, but I think our first two weeks of practice have been really good,” Guinasso said. “We got a tough first game, but I see us finishing well in our league. Once you hit playoffs and win a few games, anything can happen.”

Guinasso is implementing a new offensive and defensive scheme that will spread the ball out and keep the game up tempo for the Tides. Rather than feeding a top scorer, he hopes to bring depth to each game where any player can score and play well within their role.

This year, the Tides are also changing their atmosphere a little as well. Rather than being a team, they are pushing being a family on and off the court, something Guinasso believes his teams should be.

“We’ve been talking about it a lot... It might sound the same but there’s a lot of difference to it,” he said. “All throughout the program, its welcoming and getting them comfortable playing. Because if they are comfortable playing, then they might play a little bit better.”

One Tides player that had a little trouble with the transition at first was senior guard Tate McReynolds.

Last year, McReynolds averaged 5.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. She and coach Murray had a close relationship as well, since McReynolds had been coached in Murray’s style from the feeder program.

“It’s been very different… I grew up playing her style and playing how she coached and I [meet] her expectations,” McReynolds said. “So then for her to leave my last year playing basketball was super hard. But I knew what she had to do and it made sense.”

Even though she was a little let down after Murray left, McReynolds and Guinasso have developed a good working relationship after practicing together for a while.

In fact, McReynolds has bought into the newer philosophy and style that Guinasso has brought to the table. She understands what it takes to be a leader for the Tides on the court.

“It’s definitely a new style of basketball. It’s like a 180 degree turn I’d say,” McReynolds said. “For me, I’ve taken it and expanded my basketball knowledge. He’s definitely asking different things than coach Murray would ask. I’m real excited.”

McReynolds and her teammates are being asked to spread the ball out and keep the tempo fast on offense and fast breaks; as well as working to exploit the weaknesses in their opponents’ defense in Guinasso’s new scheme.

One thing that the Tides are facing is life without last year’s News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year Brynna Maxwell. Now at Utah, Maxwell leaves behind a lasting impact on the program that many believe will hamper the Tides.

Many, but not junior guard Meghan Edwards.

“Obviously, we lost Brynna Maxwell. We do have to get the strengths of other people,” she said. “But I really believe that our team can truly come together as one and build new chemistry. I believe in my teammates and we can make it far.”

Last year, Edwards averaged 6.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game for the Tides. For her though, numbers are not her biggest concern.

As well as be a high scorer, Edwards wants to focus on being a good leader for her teammates in order to get them to play with a confidence she knows they have.

“My main goal is to be a good leader and bring everyone together. Because we have a lot of new players, [I want to] lead the team as one,” she said. “On the court, I am really working on being more of a threat to the basket… But when the ball is in my hand, I want everyone to be confident.”

To be the leader she wants to be, Edwards will make it a point to be there for her teammates. She won’t get mad when something bad happens, but helps boost the assurance she has in her team.

And with McReynolds there with her, Edwards has a much bigger belief in her team. A belief that they can beat any opponent with everyone on their team.

The Tides will have already had a tough opener against defending 4A state champ Eastlake, but their next game will be against Wilson at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 at Wilson High School.

This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 6:00 AM.