The Lake Washington girls basketball team is returning to the court this winter with a new style. After losing a top player to an ACL tear over the summer, the Kangs rethought their game plan and are moving forward.

“Last year we had a girl named Kat Whitfield, who was arguably our best inside player. She tore her ACL in July so she’s missing her senior year. So we kind of have to change the way we play. Instead of marching up the floor and giving it to Kat we’re working on pushing the ball and getting turnovers. Adding speed to our game, rather than relying on our size. It’s a different style,” said returning head coach Cory Shepard.

The team seems to responding well to the new style, and working hard to adapt to it.

“I think we’re working hard,” said Shepard. “We have a good group with some good speed and athleticism. I really like the girls, they are a good group of kids. They work hard and they want to be successful. So I’m happy with their effort so far.”

Even without Whitfield, Shepard says the Kangs are fast and solid on the floor.

“Our strength is we’re pretty fast. We’re fairly quick. We’ve got a number of good guards and we do have a good inside player in Whitney Dunlap. She’s a load. She can cause some mismatch problems for people,” said Shepard. “I think we’re flexible. I think we can be kind of like a chameleon and do different things.”

While those strengths are at the top of the coach’s list, he knows there will be some thing to work on if the Kangs want to reach their end goals.

“I think we’re going to have to shoot better from the free throw line. I think that’s sort of been an Achilles heel for us and I think overall we’re going to have to shoot more consistently,” said the coach. “We’re going to create turnovers and get down the floor and I think we’re going to rebound pretty well but I think we need to work offensively.”

The team hopes to compete for the 3A KingCo title this year, and to get past league rival Juanita, a heavy favorite.

“I think we can be competitive at any division really,” said Shepard. “If you’ve got five or six strong players then you can compete. The trick is staying healthy. For us that’s going to be a big deal. If we lose a couple of kids or if we lose key players we don’t have the depth of a 4A school. But I think that’s the way it is with girls basketball. There are a lot of injuries out there. The best teams are the ones you stay healthy and keep their talent healthy.”

The senior captains, Dunlap, Hunter Hopkins and Cassie Lively all listed beating Juanita as the team they are ready to play, along with Liberty.

“Liberty because they knocked us out last year,” said Hopkins of teams they are excited to play.

“We want to make it to state and to beat Juanita and win KingCo,” said Lively.

Their coach believes the Kangs should set the bar high this year.

“I have high expectations for this group. I think they are going to rise as far as they want to go,” said Shepard. “I think we can compete for the league championship I think we can compete to make the Metro playoffs and I think once you get to that stage anything is possible. I definitely have high expectations for this group. I think they need to have high expectations for themselves and understand they can compete with anybody.”

The Kangs beat Interlake last Friday night and took on Juanita earlier this week. The team will travel to Mount Si for a conference match at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9 and will travel to Sammamish next Wednesday, Dec. 14 for a 7:30 p.m. game.

Get a full schedule at the KingCo website.