Dayton girls hope to be more aggressive this year

DAYTON — Dayton High’s girls coach Cliff Serawop is hoping the third year is the charm.After records of 6-18 and 10-14 in his first two years at the helm, Serawop is hoping this year’s basketball squad can bring some respectability and wins back to the program.“We’re definitely 10 times more aggressive than we were the two previous years,” Serawop said. “I think the timidness we played with at times (the previous two years) is gone.“We will battle this year. We’re not scared like we were two years ago when we played timid. Last year’s JV team was really tough. They want to win, and they aren’t holding anything back.’’Dayton returns two starters — point guard Maribel Ledezma (10 points per game. 1.8 rpg, 5.2 steals and 1.3 blocks) and off guard Destinee Serawop (2.3 ppg).Also returning are high post player Gemma Ramirez (1.6 ppg), forward Ashley Hill (1.2), 6-4 center Taylor Ingersoll (4.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and guard Lettie Lynch (2.6 ppg). Ingersoll and Lynch were call-ups from the JV squad, but didn’t letter a year ago. Both are expected to see plenty of action.Newcomers to the team are senior Devon Cates, senior Mikaila Marshall, junior Sierra Ingham, junior Ashley Sandy, Cheyenne Strong and Christi Ricci. Strong and Ricci are sophomores.Ledezma, arguably one of the best athletes in school, will be a big key to Dayton’s success. She has improved as has Destinee Serawop. In the latter’s case, it was more of a commitment to the game. Lynch will back up at both positions. Ricci and Cates will battle for playing time at the guard slots.“Ledezma’s an all-around player,” Serawop said. “Things happen naturally for her. The thing she was lacking last year was ball control. She’d go one way and the ball would go another. She would get a steal, but she’d have too much speed going up to the rim and her shot would bounce off the backboard. She has a better handle on that this year.“Destinee is taking it more seriously. She’s definitely improved her speed, and she’ll be looking to score more and not just looking to pass the ball. Lettie can shoot it, and she’s athletic.”Hill and Ingham are battling for playing time at the wing slot, while Ramirez, Strong and Sandy figure to vie for time at the power forward/high post spot. Ingersoll and Marshall are in the middle.Right now, Ledezma, Serawop, Hill and Ramirez are holding down starting spots, but coach Serawop points out that the situation could change between now and Thursday when the Dayton girls open their 2012-13 season at the Lowry Tournament in Winnemucca.“This is a time where the juniors and seniors have to step it up,” coach Serawop said.Ingersoll is the tallest player in the Lahontan League and maybe all of Northern Nevada, but she is being pushed by the 5-10 Marshall. Ingersoll needs to move better laterally and not always rely on her reach to grab rebounds. At times last year, quicker players were able to get inside position on her. “It depends how they play between now and when we have our first game,” said Serawop when asked who would start at center. “I expect both girls to get a good amount of playing time. Mikaila isn’t that tall, but she’s very physical and holds her ground.”NOTES: Serawop said his biggest fear is how quickly his newer players learn their spots in the offense and how they are going to handle their respective roles... Cora Meibus elected to play club volleyball instead of high school basketball this season.