Gorman fitting into Valley Christian’s scheme

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Jan 28, 2016 | Basketball |

Navajo Times | Donovan Quintero
Valley Christian Lady Trojan Anna Gorman, right, goes against Page Lady Sand Devil Ariel Austin (5) Saturday evening in Chandler, Ariz. Gorman is the starting point guard for the No. 2 Lady Trojans.

CHANDLER, Ariz.

Since arriving to Valley Christian last year, Anna Gorman had to make some adjustments on how she approached her game.

By way of Many Farms Public School, Gorman led her junior high basketball team to two state championships. But at one of the best Division III girls programs in the state, Gorman had to get accustomed to the concept of playing team ball.

“I came from a school that always gave me the ball and they looked for me to score,” said Gorman, the starting point guard for the No. 2 ranked Lady Trojan team. “But coming here, I think more about my teammates first.”

That’s the concept Valley Christian girls’ basketball coach Scott Timmer has used for the last 19 years to build his program.

“If you want to play an individual sport, go play tennis; but if you come on my basketball court, you have to share the ball,” Timmer said matter-of-factly. “I have some kids that are capable of scoring 20 points a game, but they understand our rule about passing and sharing the ball because it’s a team sport. Anna has picked that up very well. She can go for 20 every night. She’s that good but she understands about getting everyone involved, and we’re going to be a better team down the stretch.”

And although she was deeply ingrained to take matters into her own hands on the basketball court, Gorman likes the new direction she’s taking.

“I have the green light to drive and shoot but it’s doing it at the right time,” she said. “It’s about being disciplined and moving the ball. The adjustment I had to make is being able to slow down the game and take criticism.”