Hartnell women's basketball

Hartnell Panthers (1-10, 0-0)
 Changing the culture of a program is a process.
 Perhaps even bigger than first year Hartnell women's basketball coach Destiny Grijalva envisioned.
 Fifteen years is a long time between winning seasons. Rock bottom occurred two years ago when the Panthers endured a school record 49-game losing streak.
 "We've got some hurdles to clear,'' Grijalva said. "I want to make a difference. I have patience. I am not going anywhere.''
 Not that her patience haven't been tested during a 1-10 start to this young season -- which includes a current five-game losing streak.
 "It starts with a foundation,'' Grijalva said. "I know things don't change overnight. I need to get rid of that stigma that no one wants to come here because we've been bad.''
 Grijalva was a part of two Panthers teams as a player -- spread out over eight years. Both won 12 or more games.
 "I'll be honest,'' Grijalva said. "Some of these girls are lacking the fundamentals of basketball. What we have, though, is a young group determined to change the direction of this program."
 Despite not arriving until August, becoming the third coach in three years, Grijalva was able to fill a roster with 13 players.
 "It's the first time we have had a roster that big in a number of years,'' said Grijalva, who lead North County in scoring as a senior in 2001.
 While Hartnell snapped its record breaking losing skid last season, it struggled to a 2-10 conference mark, along with some dissension among the ranks.
 "I had to work really hard to convince some of these kids to come back this year,'' Grijalva said. "I told them 'You can make a difference. Be a part of the change.''
 Among those that came back include Aliyah Urzua, who helped lead North Salinas to back-to-back Central Coast Section Division I titles.
 Despite moving to the point this winter, Urzua leads the team in scoring at 11.8, slightly down from her team leading 13.8 last season.
 "She's one of our better shooters from beyond the arc,'' Grijalva said. "But I needed a point guard and she handles the ball well.''
 Grijalva convinced former Greenfield sharpshooter Clarissa Serrano and Gonzales defensive demon Martha Grimes to come back.
 Serrano gives the Panthers another offensive option while Grimes has recently come off the bench to give the team a spark.
 Salinas grad Davaughna Thompson has been a bright spot at 11.2 points a game while Soledad alum Illyanna Hendricks continues to be productive on the defensive end on the boards.
 "The scores haven't been indicative of our play,'' Grijalva said. "We've played well for three quarters. The offense is working. We get the attempts. But our shots just aren't falling.''
 Hartnell is shooting just 29.9 percent from the field, 15.5 percent from beyond the 3-point line, and 51.5 percent from the free throw line.
 "The game comes naturally to some,'' Grijalva said. "Then I have thinkers that have to think before they react. At that point, it's too late. That will come with experience. You have to trust the system.''
 Grijalva has increased the tempo and intensity at practice, attempting to put her players in game type situations.
 "I don't want it to feel much different for them,'' Grijalva said.
 To a degree it's worked on defense as the Panthers are  averaging 17.1 steals a game, which is second in the state. Urzua is among the state leaders at 6.8 steals a game.
 "Defense has been our strength,'' Grijalva said. "We get all these steals, but don't convert layups in transition. We have to find our stride as a team.''