Wood hasn't rocked Lady Wildcats' boat

Tue. February 07, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. | By Teddy Renois/Staff Writer

St. James' Dasha Adams (11) battles for position against the Brusly Lady Panthers last week. (Photo by Abby Tabor/Staff)

ST.JAMES — As a first-year head coach, Greg Wood faced a much different challenge with the St. James Lady Wildcats.

Usually, when a program has three coaches in three years, it screams for the need of a major change from within the program.

That was not the case for the Lady Wildcats.

St. James is the defending Class 3A state champions, and even with a revolving door at coach, is poised to repeat this season.

The coaching carousel at St. James began when Amy Blanchard left after the 2008-09 season when she guided the Lady Wildcats to a quarterfinal appearance.

Justin Adams was hired for the 2009-10 season. He led St. James to its first-ever girls state basketball championship, but he left after the season.

Wood, who has 34 years of coaching experience, was hired to keep the program running in the right direction, and so far he has.

St. James has a 22-5 overall record and 8-0 in District 7-3A competition.

Also for most of the season, St. James was ranked No. 1 in the Louisiana Sports Writer's Association Class 3A poll but fell to No. 3 on Monday.

Wood said taking over a successful program is just as difficult as taking over a losing one.

"I saw this as an opportunity and a challenge. I knew they had won a state championship the year before. I also knew that they lost some very good players," Wood said. "The challenge to me was coming to a program that has experienced success and see if I can keep it on that level. When a program is going well, you don't want to change. I always look at any situation real close, and I didn't want to change the things that were successful."

Wood spent the previous two seasons as the girls head basketball coach at Phoenix High School. He also coached boys basketball at John Ehret and Rosepine during his career.

Wood said he wasn't sure how much talent was returning from St. James' state-champion team but found out quickly that he had players with ability.

"I was concerned because I knew they had lost their top players. I didn't know what to expect," Wood said. "There were some girls returning, but I wasn't sure what they could do. When I started to see who can do what, I started to incorporate my things. I just didn't want to lose the principals that made them successful in the past."

What made Wood's transition easy was the veteran leadership of seniors Dasha Adams, Shakira Braxton and Korielle Turner.

Adams said the team had hoped that former coach Justin Adams would return, but the adjustment to Wood's coaching-style has gone well.

"We were looking forward to (Justin Adams) returning and see if he could get us back to state," Adams said. "We just dealt with the adjustment. (Wood) recognized our skills and kept us playing full court to use our strength. He just picked up on what we do, and we are doing the same things, just with a different coach."

Braxton said she wasn't sure if the coach and team would mesh, but after the first game, her doubts were gone.

"At first I was doubting, but when I saw how hard we played in our first game and how we played as a team, that is when I thought we could be special," Braxton said. "We are playing as a team and playing with composure, and our press has been consistent. We know that we had talented players that left, but it is our time to step up as a team. We have to stay disciplined on the court and work our hardest to get back to state."

The Lady Wildcats are playing like a team that can repeat as state champions and a win over St. Charles Catholic tonight will wrap up the District 7-3A title.

Wood said he hopes the previous system and what he has added will be the right formula for a consecutive state championship.

"This challenge is real exciting for me," Wood said. "When you win state, then you are a marked team. It is hard to repeat because everyone knows that you are good and can play. That has been the toughest part. Wherever we go, teams knew we could play. We didn't surprise any team, but I'm impressed with my girls. They get out there and play extremely hard. When they get on the floor they get serious. They are a serious-minded team and are willing to do what it takes to win basketball games."