Capital shooters shake up the 3A SSC girls basketball standings with undefeated record
What a difference a year has made in 3A South Sound Conference girls basketball.
Last season, Capital High School lost four of its last five league games to finish in fifth place at 6-8, seven games behind champion Peninsula. Meanwhile, that outcome was better than coach Tiffany Twiddy’s Shelton team could manage. The Highclimbers finished 4-10 in the SSC, one spot ahead of cellar-dwelling Central Kitsap.
Then, Twiddy took a new job in a gym 22 miles from the Minidome. The league standings have undergone a shakeup.
Heading into Wednesday’s game at Timberline (3-11, 2-6 in the SSC), Twiddy’s Capital team is undefeated in eight league games and 11-3 overall.
The 28-year old Twiddy, who coached at Shelton just one season, and 5-foot-10 senior wing Nicole Lindblom agree on the reasons for Capital’s rise.
“The kids have completely bought into the ‘we’ culture that our coaches are pushing,” said Twiddy. “No one person is more important than anyone else. We’re all fighting for each other. We you quit playing for yourself and start playing for your teammates, good things will happen.”
Lindblom, who shattered the Cougars’ record of five 3-point field goals made in a single game when she nailed eight in a 68-63 comeback win over Yelm last week, nearly echoed her coaches’ words.
“It’s been an incredible team process, an absolute change from last year,” she said. “We’re completely bought in. The team chemistry is incredible. We do a great job of supporting one another, on and off the court.”
Never was the need for Capital’s players to stick together tested as much as in what could turn out to be the signature victory of their 2019-20 season. Down by as many as 17 to Yelm earlier, the Cougars trailed 55-41 entering the fourth quarter.
“We needed to get stops and score. It needed to be a quick score. We couldn’t give them any more second chances,” said Twiddy. “We went out and got stops, got boards and got quick scores. That’s how you chip back into those games.”
It doesn’t hurt to have a deadly calm shooter like Lindblom, whose eighth trey tied the game at 61 and was followed by a short corner jumper by 5-7 senior wing Kyra Ashton to put Capital ahead to stay.
“Being able to hit those shots when it was needed was a real big confidence booster for me,” Lindblom, being recruited by a number of small colleges, said. But she’s always had faith in her long-range ability. “If I’m open, it’s going in. You’ve got to guard me.
“I’ve never been part of a comeback like that. It was incredible, such a fun feeling.”
Twiddy was enthused by the stirring rally, but not completely surprised.
“That was relentless, one of the deeper deficits I’ve seen a team come back from,” she said. “This team just doesn’t quit. Regardless of what happens we continue to keep our energy up and stay positive. When that’s the type of team you are, things will swing your way.”
In addition to Lindblom and Ashton, 5-5 senior wing Raegen Henry, 5-9 sophomore wing Sydney Riedel and 5-9 junior point guard Kendall Hooper have been mainstays.
The win over Yelm, now third in the SSC standings behind the Cougars and Gig Harbor with a 6-2 league mark, ended the first round of conference play, ensuring Capital would beat each of its opponents at least once this season.
With road games at Gig Harbor and Yelm remaining, knowing they found a way to beat everyone should help the Cougars.
“It’s huge for our confidence,” said Twiddy. “The second time around, we’re going to go into tough environments for away games. When you win the first time you can say ‘this is how we did it, let’s do the same thing again.’”
A league championship would be the first for the Cougar girls since they won the 3A Western Cascade Conference with an 8-1 record during 2009-10. After that, Timberline and Wilson rose up to dominate the 3A Narrows. During a stint dropping down to the 2A Evergreen Conference, Capital had to contend with powerhouses W.F. West, River Ridge and Black Hills.
For now, in the fourth season of the 3A SSC’s existence, Capital is back on top. Contending for league titles is nothing rare for the Cougars’ boys, who are tied for first with Gig Harbor pending Wednesday’s action and played four games at 3A state last season, finishing 21-6.
The girls feel a kinship with the boys.
“This class of seniors, we do like each other a lot. We’ve known each other so long it’s been fun growing up with them playing basketball,” said Lindblom. “Seeing them have success and them seeing us have success and supporting each other is keeping a good circle.”
Within the girls team, Lindblom sees key ingredients for more accomplishments.
“We like basketball a lot and we like each other,” she said. “We have a passion for the game and we’re a total family.”
This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 6:00 AM.