The Chabot women's basketball team has every reason to feel confident heading into conference play this week.
The Gladiators, ranked 18th in the state in the Dec. 31 CCCBWCA poll, are coming off a solid showing in a 69-64 loss to No. 4 ranked Sequoias. Chabot has a balanced squad under coach Mark Anger, with five players averaging double digits: Zakiya Mahoney, Mia Finnie, Indya Williams, Kendra Jueitt, and Kim Masulit.
Mahoney, a freshman forward, is averaging a double-double at 15.2 points and 10.2 rebounds a game.
Plus, the Gladiators (11-6) are getting healthy, which should be considered bad news for opponents.
"We haven't really been healthy since we beat Mt. SAC (60-58 on Dec. 1)," Anger says. "We're getting there. We're close."
Chabot will open Coast-North play on Friday at San Jose and then will host Las Positas on Wednesday, Jan. 16.
Finnie, a sophomore forward, is averaging 12.8 points and 8.6 boards. The freshman Williams is No. 2 on the team in scoring at 13.0 ppg.
Why is Chabot so solid?
"Lot of returners and good newcomers," Anger says. "We have the potential to be very, very good. We've beaten top teams and played a very tough schedule. We're certainly going to challenge for league; our goal."
CCSF appears loaded again with an 11-2 record and No. 6 state ranking. Skyline is also on an uptick this season, but Chabot expects to be right there.
The Gladiators don't run as much this season, focusing more on half-court play and the trio of Masulit, Mahoney and Finney. Masulit (10.6 ppg), a sophomore guard with a deft outside touch, is often the primary focus on the perimeter for opponents.
Now the Gladiators appear ready to rev up for a big finish this season.