Talented scorer, balanced schedule could get Tech girls into tourney

Despite struggling to a 5-15 record last year, Lynn Tech head coach Kevin McDormand sees several positive factors that could lead to a state tourney berth come late February.Click here for a photo gallery.The biggest will be the return of offensive powerhouse Hattie Watkins. The 6-2 center was a force in the paint, averaging almost 16 points and 12 rebounds per game during a stellar season that earned her Lynn Item and Commonwealth Conference All-Star honors as well as being named team co-MVP.”She’s the main focal point of our offense,” said McDormand. “When she gets the ball inside, she’s tough and she has a great touch.”With her hard work this past summer in AAU ball with Tech boys hoop coach Marvin Avery, among others, she’s added some timely quickness to her arsenal that makes her even tougher to defend.Watkins will be joined by classmate Ryce Colon to give Tech an imposing inside presence.”Ryce has got a little Charles Barkley in her,” said McDormand. “Her physicality sets the tone and she plays like someone eight inches taller than she is. She’s intuitive to the ball on rebounds and steals and really attacks the rim. We expect her to really contribute this year.”Senior and second-year co-captain Tori Park will be running the offense with the same drive she applies to her schoolwork, where her commitment to succeed has earned her work-study at an area auto body shop.Joining Park in the backcourt will be junior Mimi Gonzalez, who averaged eight points per game last season.”She’s as quick as a lightning bug and can really catch and shoot,” said McDormand. “She has a well-rounded offensive game and we expect her to be in double figures quite a bit this year.”Stepping up from the JVs will be sophomore and potential starter Marianny Jimenez, “defensively as quick as any player we’ve had,” according to McDormand, and freshman Lila Nieves.”Lila’s ball-handling and shooting are pretty well developed and I think she has a chance to contribute right away,” said McDormand.The other benefit Tech will receive comes from a scheduling change in the CAC, where it will face the large schools only once instead of twice. Replacing bigger, tougher teams like Shawsheen and Whittier with more compatible competition can only help.”We lost five games by five points or less last year,” concluded McDormand. “We’re really shooting for a tournament berth this year and we can get there if things go the right way.”Lynn Tech opens its season Tuesday at Mystic Valley, a team the Tigers split a pair of contests with last season.