By Kyle LoJacono
The Academy at the Lakes girls basketball program might as well separate its brief history into two parts — before and after coach Karim Nohra.
The Wildcats (8-4) failed to reach the playoffs during their first four years, including going 0-15 during the 2009-10 season. Everything changed when Nohra brought his trap defense and high demands to the program last year.
“The school never really won a whole lot in basketball,” Nohra said. “The mentality before was we get to go out and play, and if we win great and if we don’t we’ll just have fun. That’s not my mentality. My mentality is if you’re going to keep score and bring referees you should go out to win. In order to win you have to prepare hard.
“I require them to sweat and occasionally cry and that’s OK,” Nohra continued. “I want them to work so hard in practice, that when the games come they’re easy and fun. We want the other team to cry in the games.”
Those willing to pay the price stayed and won a district championship and made the Class 1A regional finals. It was the fourth straight year one of Nohra’s teams made it to the final eight following trips with Wesley Chapel from 2008-10.
Getting a team into the shape physically and mentally for a deep playoff run starts with offseason work.
“I think the most important aspect he instills is mental toughness,” said junior guard/forward Andrea Mauger, who was at Wesley Chapel with Nohra as a freshman. “Over the summer when he has us running for an hour in the hot sun with no music, running sprints and everything else, everything is a mental game with him. I think that’s where we get a lot of teams is our mental game.”
The squad is averaging 60 points per game while allowing just more than 34, including a miniscule 4 against Class 2A-District 8 rival Cambridge Christian, but Nohra is pushing for better-executed gameplans.
“We’re way more talented than last year,” Nohra said. “However, mentally we’re not there yet. Hopefully the practices and games will get us to the point where in January everyone is clicking.”
Part of that lack of perfect execution is two new starting guards. Amelia Oliver came from Sunlake High when her mother, Marla, became a full-time teacher at the academy, and guard Samantha Fernandez came from Oldsmar Christian.
“We’re back to teaching the system from the ground up,” Nohra said. “They have to understand how to trap, when to trap. They all have the physical tools to trap, but it’s all about the mentality of the game.”
The academy also gets back senior center Yvanessa Vincent, who missed almost all of the regular season last year after suffering a torn ACL in the first quarter of the first game.
“I went out for a trap in the backcourt and I guess I planted too hard,” Vincent said. “Not 100 percent, but I’m better than I was last year. It’s stronger after a lot of physical therapy, but it’s not where I want it to be.”
Vincent returned for districts and regionals. Nohra said she was key to the postseason run.
“She’s leading us in rebounds right now and controls the middle of the defense,” Nohra said. “She gives a lot of effort. We totally missed her during the year. She does so much more than what’s recorded in the box score.”
Vincent relishes the chance to take the Wildcats to new heights.
“That was one of my goals was to make history at a new school,” Vincent said. “We got our name up on the banner in the gym and we want to add one more.”
One constant for the academy is the production and leadership of Mauger, who is averaging 17 points and 5.2 rebounds this year.
“Without Andrea this team wouldn’t work as well because she knows the system inside and out,” Nohra said. “She makes sure everyone is in the right spot and understands what I want. She’s my coach on the floor.”
Mauger said she is working to make sure everyone is doing what is needed to take the program to the next level.
“If you don’t reach at least that benchmark we’ve set I’d feel like I hadn’t worked hard enough,” Mauger said. “At this point I feel like we’re ready to push beyond. That atmosphere in the playoffs is great. The noise, the energy and the excitement — it’s what you live for and why you play.”
The Wildcats play Seffner Christian on Friday, Jan. 6 before taking on Carrollwood Day the following night. Both games are at home and start at 6 p.m.
