Judge's season finished with a Region 10 title and hosting a playoff contest. The future is now for fourth-year Bulldog coach Jeremy Chatterton.
"We're very happy with winning our third region title since 2001, it was a successful season. We've got a lot of talent coming back this year and even though we didn't finish 2007 as we'd liked to, hopefully it'll carry over into motivation for the road ahead," he said.
Chatterton was referring to the disappointing Class 3A first round playoff exit to Dixie last February. However, Bulldog fans can look on the bright side as Judge Memorial returns a core of solid players to make another championship run
"We've gone through two weeks of practice and one thing is certain, we've got a lot of athletes on this year's team," forward Tina Fakahafua said. "The talent is towards all areas, from our seniors to our sophomores, meaning this team's going to be tough to beat throughout the next three to four years."
Sophomores Erica Martinez (a three-point specialist who contributed 17 points in the Bulldogs' playoff game) and Mikelle Mancini are going to spark the offensive charge. However, Judge will only go as far as Fakahafua, an all-Region 10 honoree last year, will lead them.
"I try to lead by example on and off the court," she said. "My role as a leader is to keep everyone on the same page, upbeat, and pumped up for the season ahead. One of our team's biggest strengths is communication. We're very good friends off the floor, which in turn helps us become successful on the floor," Fakahafua said.
Pressure doesn't exist in Fakahafua's vocabulary. The versatile 5-foot-10 junior standout hit four straight free throws to secure a 51-46 win over Uintah last season. Which begs the question, who would be better to lead the Bulldogs then her?
"She can flat out play anywhere on the court," Chatterton said. "Even though Tina's a bit undersized, she plays much bigger then her size."
Multiple lessons were learned during the Bulldogs' playoff run, starting at the top with Chatterton saying he might have overcoached. Nonetheless, Judge plans to change systematically in 2007-08. The Bulldogs hope to establish a run-and-gun offensive scheme which plays a complete contrast to its previous slowed pace half-court sets a year ago.
"We're lacking size on this roster and that's why we're going to go with a faster paced game. It'll help us take advantage of our athletic ability and get some easy baskets," Fakahafua said.
Judge tips off its preseason schedule Tuesday against Highland.
"We've definitely got a difficult preseason schedule coming up," Chatterton said. "We try to have as many Class 4A games slated as possible. I feel it tests the team, helping us in preparation for the regular season. It's not going to be easy defending our title - Wasatch is going to be strong again, Morgan and Emery will be right there as well. It's going to be a challenge all year, but I think the girls are ready for it."
"We've gone through two weeks of practice and one thing is certain, we've got a lot of athletes on this year's team."
TINA FAKAHAFUA, forward
Judge High basketball player Tina Fakahafua, and her bubbly personality before a practice session earlier this week. (Scott Sommerdorf /The Salt Lake Tribune )
Judge girls basketball
* Junior Tina Fakahafua looks to be the Bulldogs' leader on and off the floor.
* Fakahafua, a 5-foot-10 standout forward, hopes to build on her all-Region 10 season from last winter.
* Fourth year coach Jeremy Chatterton looks to build on last seasons Region 10 championship with versatile and athletically gifted players like forward Tina Fakahafua.