Parkway Christian is currently 6-1 on the year and fighting for the top spot in the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference-Red league.
By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Sterling Heights Sentry | Published January 23, 2024
STERLING HEIGHTS — As first-year coach James Parchell pondered the possibility of taking over the head coaching job at Sterling Heights Parkway Christian girls basketball heading into this season, it was evident to him the changes that needed to be made.
Aside from turning around a 6-18 team the previous season and inheriting a predominantly young roster, Parchell said that with the right changes, he felt Parkway Christian (6-1) could turn the program around immediately.
“Last year, they just did a lot of turnovers,” Parchell said. “If you look, they only lost a lot of their games last year by a few points, and I just looked at it as really just being the turnovers. We really focused on defense and not making a lot of turnovers.”
Step one was switching the defensive scheme, which was a welcome change for a Parkway Christian team that is shorter in height compared to their opponents.
What they lacked in height was made up with their speed, and the change from man-to-man defense to zone became a smooth transition, resulting in 26.4 points per game allowed so far in comparison to the 37.5 points per game last year.
“Our defense has gotten substantially better than last year,” junior Bella Flora said. “We are much better in zone. In man-to-man, we would lose our guys and we would get lost. Zone is definitely our stronger defense.”
Step two was limiting turnovers on the offensive end, but the offensive discrepancies were not from a place of miscommunication or poor judgment.
For the Eagles, instilling confidence into each player was Parchell’s mindset on how to correct offensive miscues, and the personal growth of each player has been noticeable.
A team that scored over 40 points four times in 24 games last year has already eclipsed the 40-point mark three times, including a 58-point performance in their fourth game of the season.
“I think it’s really been our ability to move the ball and be more confident,” junior guard Tamerah Peterson said. “Last year, not as many people were confident, and they didn’t really want to touch the ball. They just kind of freaked out when they had the ball. This year, everyone is getting used to it. Last year, Kelsey (Smith) never wanted to drive. Now she’s driving and scoring. She’s getting way more comfortable.”
Peterson has been a workhorse on both sides of the court for the Eagles, averaging nine steals a game and scoring double-digit figures night in and night out, including a 34-point performance against Brighton Charyl Stockwell Prep Jan. 9 that tied a school record.
Peterson is as versatile as they come, being an all-State runner in track and a cornerstone on a Parkway Christian volleyball team that made it to the district championship. Still, Parchell said her commitment to basketball is immeasurable.
“I think it’s her work ethic,” Parchell said. “Not only does she work here, but when she’s not here her dad takes her to some places and she works on her individual skills like shooting the ball, dribbling, layups and her jumpshot.”
Alongside Peterson, the starting five of Flora, freshman Angelina Marchesi, sophomore Raina Collins and senior Sommer Fishpaw have been consistent contributors this season for Parkway Christian.
Marchesi, Fishpaw and Collins dominate the boards, each averaging over five rebounds per game on the year and kick-starting the transition offense.
Marchesi is part of a talented freshman class consisting of Payton Ellington, Kayla Caruss and Jordan Williams, and Marchesi said the leadership of the veterans has helped her transition to the varsity level.
“Being a freshman coming into varsity will always be scary, but her (Sommer), Tamerah (Peterson) and Bella (Flora) were all really welcoming,” Marchesi said. “Since we have a bunch of freshmen and sophomores, the people who already played have been really helpful. The very first game, I was talking to Sommer (Fishpaw) and telling her that I was so nervous, and she said, ‘It’s just easier and you’ll end up having fun with it,’ and she was right.”
Collins headlines the largest class on the team, the sophomores, alongside Smith, Brooke Kies, Kailey Chapa and Hope Woolman.
Regardless of the youth or inexperience, Parkway Christian is playing confident basketball, and it’s translating to a team that will challenge for the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference-Red league title and, hopefully, a district title, which Parkway Christian last brought home in 2017.
No matter how you look at it, Parchell’s first season as coach has been nothing short of success, and the confidence of his team speaks volumes to it.
“With our new coach, he’s definitely helped bring that out with our team and bring out this new confidence,” Peterson said.