JACKSON GIRLS TRY TO BUILD ON HISTORY

Jackson girls basketball coach Ron Cook doesn't allow himself to look back too much.

He prefers to keep his eyes focused on the future and the task at hand.

It's not that the past is painful and strewn with disappointments. To the contrary, Jackson has arguably been the most successful girls basketball program in the state over the past three years. That span includes three state appearances, two state runner-up finishes and a total of seven losses.

But Cook likes to direct his full attention on his current team. It's their day in the sun and opportunity to write a chapter of Jackson history.

"I'm looking forward to this year," said Cook. "We have some young players coming up and hope it all comes together."

But the Lady Indians will miss a few key people from last year's squad in 4A all-state selections Michele Millham and Shannon Perry. Both graduates excelled on the inside.

"You don't replace players like that," said Cook. "You just hope somebody steps up."

Just because two all-state players have moved along doesn't mean the cupboard is bare.

The Lady Indians return their backcourt and have six lettermen returning overall. There is also an infusion from last year's JV, which lost just two games.

Senior point guard Christa Millham, who recently signed a letter of intent to attend New Mexico State on a basketball scholarship, has started since her sophomore season. The 5-foot-10 Millham averaged 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals per game as a junior to earn second-team all-state honors.

Guard Dana Eakins (5-5) will begin her third year with the varsity. She averaged 6 points a game last year and, along with Millham, is a threat with the three-point shot. Both players shot around 30 percent from behind the arc last year.

Also returning from last year's team are four juniors: forwards Dana Littlepage (5-11) and Melissa Palmer (5-10) and guards Chrissi Glastetter (5-9) and Jamie Heitz (5-9).

The Lady Indians will add more size from last year's JV in 6-foot-1 junior Amanda Stevens and 5-10 sophomore Cherish Tillman.

Additional backcourt help will come from juniors Stephanie Spradling (5-5), Laura Beck (5-7) and Kara Thoma (5-6), all who played JV last year.

Cook said his team's size will be comparable to his recent teams and he likes the quickness.

"Overall we might be a little quicker (than last year)," said Cook. "That definitely helps on defense and that's what we key on."

An intangible factor also comes into play for the Lady Indians, who have come to expect to win on all levels. Jackson's varsity has not only been excelling, but the JV has been keeping pace.

"I think that positive attitude carries over," said Cook.

Cook is not about to predict an appearance in a third straight state championship game, instead he has his team's sights on winning the conference and district.

However, he's not ruling out what has become a typical Jackson season, saying: "I can see it developing again -- if they work hard and believe in themselves."

Jackson opens the season in next week's Farmington Tournament.