In addition to reading, writing, and arithmetik, there’s been a lot of on-court learning for a young Oceanside girls’ basketball team this season.
That was bound to happen, especially after “graduating basically two basketball teams worth of starters,” head coach Jared Stoler said.
And while wins have been hard to come by, the lessons learned have been invaluable this season for the Sailors.
“That’s something you can’t even quantify,” Stoler said. “Three of my full-time starters were on JV last year and they’re basically only coming off the court when they’re in foul trouble or they’re gassed. For better or worse, whether it’s a tight game or a blowout, they’re still getting that experience and getting used to the speed of the game, which is terrific moving forward.”
Those three players who made the jump from JV straight into the starting lineup are sophomores Ella Murray and Bella Marsicano and junior Gianna Belone.
The only returning starter from last year’s squad is Camryn Weinberg, a senior point guard who was named captain before the start of the season.
In her third year on the varsity, Weinberg has come out of her shell, both on and off the court, emerging as the leader the young Sailors need her to be.
“She’s had the talent since sophomore year, which is why she’s been with us, but I’ve always been waiting for her to take that next step on the court, and even off the court,” Stoler said. “She’s been way more vocal than ever, which has been nice to see. She’s been upfront and open and honest about things and communication. She’s really mature.”
The fifth starter is junior Karley Handleman, a force getting to the basket who is willing to do the dirty work to help her team win.
Murray, Stoler said, is one of the most athletic players on the team. The fearless sophomore with a strong basketball IQ rarely leaves the floor.
Marsicano is a sophomore forward who “has so much untapped potential,” Stoler said. Belone has earned her spot in the starting lineup due to her work ethic and leading by example.
“She’s always giving 110% effort and legitimately just worked her way into the starting lineup and is in a position where I can’t take her off the floor,” Stoler said.
While the playoffs are not in the picture, Oceanside (4-12, 2-6 Conference AAA) heads into the final three games of the season with plenty to play for.
“I tell them all the time, just make sure you leave everything on the floor. That’s what I’m looking for for these next couple of games,” Stoler said. “We do that, we ride the momentum into a positive offseason and into next year.”
And they’d ride into a 2025-26 season with four returning starters.
“That’s pretty much a coach’s dream, right,” Stoler said. “So it’s honing those four girls’ skills, it’s getting all of the bench players to buy in, and basically getting everyone maximizing their abilities.”
