AURORA — Coaching is of the Essence at Cherokee Trail.
Behind 17 points by sophomore Essence Shead, one of the program’s jet guards, the Cougars’ emergence continued Wednesday in veteran coach Jim Bartok’s first year in command with a 74-45 home whipping of Gateway in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.
A year ago, Cherokee Trail won four games. So far in 2009-10, the Cougars are 17-7 and will be at Arvada West on Saturday in Round 2.
Asked the difference between this season and the past one, Shead said: “It’s coaching and the plays we run. He’s a fun guy to play for.”
In his 23rd season as a head coach and 36th overall, including the past seven at Jefferson County’s Columbine and 15 at Douglas County’s Ponderosa, Bartok may be having as much fun as in any of his time on the bench — he’s retired from teaching and lives in Aurora, about 10 minutes from the Cougars.
“It’s very gratifying,” Bartok said. “We’ve come a long way since I took over in May. I inherited this team, didn’t know what to expect, but our goal was to make the tournament. I hate being left out of the tournament.”
No problem there — the Cougars finished third in the Centennial League and showed Gateway how it got there from the opening tipoff. A couple of passes and a layup later, Cherokee Trail had the lead it never surrendered, only increased.
Behind Shead, Ariessa Adams (12 points), Cydney Horton and Mikeala Nevin (11 each) and Quiana Barfield (10), the Cougars’ wave was thorough. Cherokee Trail generated turnovers, beat the Olympians down the floor, got to the basket and displayed superior passing.
“These kids are great. We force them to play a style of ball they don’t always want to play, and they slip back sometimes, but they’re dynamic,” Bartok said.
Gateway ended 8-14 and was paced by Vanessa Carter’s 15 points.
“I’m going to give them a week off, then we’ll be back at it (for next season),” Gateway coach Tami Traylor said.
Gateway 12 7 13 13 — 45
Cherokee Trail 24 12 19 19 — 74
Gateway — Jones 5 2-4 13, Tennell 2 2-6 6, Holiday 0 0-0 0, Stewart 2 0-0 5, Ramzy 1 0-1 2, Spann 0 0-0 0, Tejero 2 0-0 4, Carter 6 1-4 15, Hines 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 5-15 45.
Cherokee Trail — Turnbull 3 0-0 9, Libonati 0 0-0 0, Adams 5 2-2 12, Barfield 5 0-0 10, Muniz 0 0-0 0, Shead 5 6-9 17, Nevin 5 0-0 11, Horton 5 1-4 11, Drayton 0 2-4 2, Duresky 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 11-19 74.
3-point goals — Carter 2, Jones, Stewart; Turnbull 3, Nevin, Shead.
