Catholic Central Girls Basketball Preview
By Dana Ehrmann
Sports Correspondent
After a lifetime of basketball experience, Jerod Boyd is getting his shot as the girls Catholic Central basketball coach this year.
Boyd was slated to help coach the boys Catholic Central basketball team when the girls’ position opened up.
He was poised to take it. He served as varsity head coach of Westosha the last three years, with seven years coaching experience before that.
Boyd grew up playing the game, putting in the work to eventually become an all-conference and all-area selection at Wilmot High School.
He followed that up playing club basketball at UW-Whitewater.
Accumulating so much experience not only develops the physical skills but a great basketball mind, and he’s eager to bring his expertise to Burlington.
“I have a passion for leading a program and teaching kids the game of basketball,” said Boyd.
“I have beliefs in the way I like the game of basketball to be played, so I enjoy having control of the program. I love having the pressure and love being the leader of a community.”
One would expect a coach to place very high importance on hard work, but Coach Boyd takes it to the next level.
To him, what makes a good basketball player? That she is “coachable” and “hard-working.”
“They have the desire to do anything it takes to become better,” he said. “They put in work when nobody else is working.”
What is his team’s goal this season?
“To work the hardest out of anyone in the MCC [Metro Classic Conference],” Boyd said. “We want to force the most turnovers and hold opponents to the least amount of scoring per game.”
And what does he think of his players so far?
“These are respectful, hardworking kids who want to work hard,” Coach Boyd said. “They have an urge to understand the game and want to get better. Our guards will be the key to the success of our team.”
This Lady Topper team is very young this season, with senior Bridget Bittmann and junior Mikelle Miles as the only upperclassmen on the squad.
But again, with that hard work component, they should have the chance to achieve one of their other goals – win a game in the conference, where they have currently lost 51 straight.
Those chances will come in due time, but first, the Lady Toppers start off their season facing University School on Tuesday, Nov. 22 and Heritage Christian on Wednesday, Nov. 30.
Schedule
(HOME GAMES ALL CAPS)
November – 30: HERITAGE CHRISTIAN. December – 2: at Shoreland Lutheran. 6: MARTIN LUTHER. 8: at Prairie School. 10: KENOSHA ST. JOE’S. 13: DOMINICAN. 19: BROOKFIELD ACADEMY. 21: SHORELAND LUTHERAN. 24: at Kenosha St. Joe’s. 27: at Dominican. 31: PRAIRIE SCHOOL. February – 2: PRAIRIE SCHOOL. 4: THOMAS MORE. 7: RACINE ST. CAT’S. 10: at Martin Luther. 16: at Racine Lutheran.
Lady Toppers earn first victory
The girls Catholic Central basketball team had the kind of game on Tuesday, Nov. 22 that they hope will set the tone for their entire season.
They bested University School of Milwaukee by a score of 45-32 at home.
The Lady Toppers were playing both sides of the ball well, and for both halves of the game, leading to the victory.
“Our defense forced 25 turnovers, which created a lot more possessions for us,” head coach Jerod Boyd said.
Then his squad made good on those possessions.
“Bridgett Bittmann was our standout,” Boyd added. “She hit three big three-pointers at crucial times in the game.”
The senior finished the night with 17 points total.
Junior Mikelle Miles added 14.
Coach Boyd feels confident about what his squad is doing in practice to gear up for upcoming matchups, conference and otherwise, especially after this win.
“We are really just focusing on perfecting our stuff,” said the coach.
That includes “getting a better flow to our offense as well as creating more turnovers within our defenses.”
He also knows that it’s important not only for a team to improve how they play, but also how other teams perceive them.
“I love to game plan for other teams, but it’s ideal when other teams have to worry about you,” said Coach Boyd.
Looking ahead, Catholic Central faces Shoreland Lutheran on Friday, Dec. 2.
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