Fillmore Still Ringing ‘Em Up

Memo to Sheri Fauver: Charge up the cellular phone. It’s likely to be called upon more frequently this season.

Fauver, sister of Fillmore High girls’ basketball coach Jeff Fauver, and daughter of former boys’ coach Jim Fauver, is a crucial communication link.

Jim Fauver, despite having coached in countless tight games, can’t bear to watch his son’s team when the game gets close. He heads home and Sheri calls him from the stands with updates.

“During big games he just gets too nervous and takes off,” Jeff Fauver said of his father. “If he thinks it’s going to be really close he won’t show up at all.”

Fortunately for Jim, the Flashes have won the Tri-Valley League title in each of Jeff’s two seasons as coach.

Fillmore has a 43-8 record in that time and was a Southern Section Division IV-AA semifinalist last season. The Flashes (9-4) lost leading scorer Julie Arundell to graduation but remain the class of the league, which begins play Tuesday.

The chief competitor is La Reina (5-2), which returns all five starters from a third-place team. The rivals play Tuesday at Fillmore.

Fauver, a 1979 Fillmore graduate who played for his father, this season guides a team that is small--and by necessity and design--quick.

The Flashes return four starters, all seniors, and their attack begins with senior point guard Christie Rosenblad, who averages 16 points.

“She’s the backbone of our team,” Fauver said of Rosenblad, who shared league player of the year honors with Arundell last season.

Rosenblad’s play-making benefits 5-foot-11 senior center April Kozar, who averages 20.8 points and 15.2 rebounds.

Fillmore forward and defensive standout Jennifer Smithwick is 5-5 and shooting guard Elizabeth Arguelles is 5-2.

La Reina Coach Allison Sain has a deep and experienced squad, with a core of players who have been together at least three seasons.

Kindrea Cuccia, a 5-9 senior, is averaging 11.3 points. MacKenzie Vandergeest, a 5-7 freshman, is a star of the future.

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AT A GLANCE

* THE PROVEN: Fillmore senior point guard Christie Rosenblad averaged 16.7 points last season and was a league co-player of the year. Flashes’ senior center April Kozar averaged 16.4 points and 15.2 rebounds. . . . La Reina senior forward Kindrea Cuccia averaged 11.3 points and 9.3 rebounds last season. . . . Oak Park senior swing player Michelle Frankson is averaging 12 points. . . . Bishop Diego’s lone senior is 5-9 center Andrea Garcia, averaging 11.3 points and 10.2 rebounds.

* THE PROMISING: St. Bonaventure sophomore forward Jessica Cubitt averages 7.5 rebounds. . . . Carpinteria sophomore guard Jenny Bernal, averaging eight points for winless Carpinteria, has played basketball for two years.