CCHS Captain Jamie Potter Talks B-Ball

The girls' basketball season is well under way, and despite its 1-4 record, the Patriots feel good about their prospects for the rest of the season.

On Tuesday, they face their second Dual County small division oppenent, Bedford, and the team has been preparing tirelessly for the bout. Patch sat down with senior point guard and captain of the Patriots, Jamie Potter, to ask her about the team, its goals and her personal aspirations.

1. What do you think of your season so far?

I think we've started a little slow, but we've had to face some of our toughest competition of the season. Only one team we faced was in our league, Arlington, and in that game we came out with a win. We've played teams in the Dual County large league or Middlesex League – teams bigger than us. We've got a small group this year. We have one girl who is (5-foot-11), then everyone else is short.  Teams like Wakefield, Woburn and Danvers were tough competition.

2.  How do you think your team can improve?

Everything. Every day we work on something different. Today we are working on our fast breaks and boxing out. Nothing's perfect, you know.  One big thing is on defense. The more we work on defense the better we'll be. The last game we had was really low scoring and we want to force teams into that.

3.  What are the team's strengths?

Our speed and fitness are big strengths of ours. We're a smaller team, but also faster.  We have a quickness we can bring to the court. It hasn't helped us yet, but I think it will. We'd like to control the ball more, and use our speed on defense more.

4. What are your team's goals this year? And what are your personal goals for the season?

We want to be Dual County League small school champions. We're 1-0 in our league and we're definitely capable of winning the league. That's my own personal goal as well. I'm trying to do my best with conditioning, trying to keep our spirit and motivation high despite the tough start. Those are all part of my goals.

5.  Who has helped your team stay focused, and challenged the team to get better?

Well, everyone, but especially the seniors. Gayle Miner has made a big contribution. She works hard every day and in every practice, and Lee Bloomenberg works hard to keep us focused. They are both good players. Lee has played really well this year. Rebeka Shenten has helped out a lot too, but as an assistant coach. She injured her knee and had to have surgery earlier this year, so she can't play, but she is helping to coach. She helps a lot with the forwards game-planning, so she was given the title of assistant coach.

6.  Who do you look forward to seeing improve over the next year?

Jesse Catelline has been playing better and better. I'm excited to see what she can continue to do. She has been the team's leading scorer, and I've seen her steadily improve over the years. She is a good leader as well.

7.  What are your plans for the future, college and athletics?

I'm going to Harvard next year. I don't know what I'm studying, I'll figure that out once I'm there. I am going to play sports in college, but not basketball, lacrosse.  I play midfield. I had to choose one sport and I ended up choosing lacrosse. We'll see how it works out.

8. Who do you feel is a benchmark team for the Patriots this year?

Bedford. We play them on Tuesday. They are another DCL school and we want to win the division, so every one of those games is crucial.  We've been working on a man-on-man defensive scheme to play them, and our fast-break and box-out work should help us get a win.