Prospect Heights Girls Hope to Rebound

For the Prospect Heights girl's basketball team things can't get any worse than last year.  During the 2009-10 season the did not win a single game, going 0-15 en route to a last place finish in the Brooklyn A East Division.

"[Last season] was rough," said head coach Cheez Ezenekwe.  "But we are working hard to improve."

At Prospect Heights season opener on Tuesday against Wingate Educational Campus, Ezenekwe is hoping finally to turn things around for a program that has won a total of five games in the past four seasons.

The challenge for the third year head coach during 2010-11 season will be having to deal with inexperienced players.  The Cardinals only have three members from their previous roster returning to play this season and their most talented player, junior Robin Shelton, is playing her first season of varsity basketball. 

Ezenekwe has liked what he has seen from Shelton during pre-season scrimmages and will rely on her to be leader on the floor.  Shelton is regarded as the best shooter on the team, but if she is the only person who can put the ball in the basket, she will face frequent double teams.

Last season's struggles took a toll on the team. Players quit during the season. This year the Cardinals are focused on players being committed to the program as they try to rebuild. 

"The morale of the team has been up and down," said Ezenekwe.  "The biggest issue I have as a coach is making the commitment."

In a division loaded with schools that have very experienced programs, expectations for Prospect Heights girls basketball are not very high.  However, the Cardinals believe they can do what they were unable to accomplish last year and win multiple games. 

"We are a work in progress," Ezenekwe said. "I am going to work my hardest to try and make this team become competitive. Four to five wins would be a successful season for us."

Following a rough winless season the only way for the Cardinals to go is up.