By Daniel Archuleta
Managing Editor

SAMOHI Potential seems to be the buzz word surrounding the Santa Monica High School girls basketball team these days.

Coach Marty Verdugo drops it whenever he can. His star players repeat it like a mantra. It seems that the only thing on their minds is playing up to that potential and apparently there’s plenty of it to go around.

Anchored by seniors Daisy Feder and Katy Keating, the Vikings squad has amassed an 18-4 record while going 5-1 in Ocean League play. Feder has averaged a gaudy 22 points a game and is considered the team’s lock-down defender, often drawing the assignment to guard the opponent’s best player. Keating does her part by posting 14 points and eight rebounds a contest.

“The girls’ commitment to off-season training and making goals at the beginning of the season has really been the difference this year,” Verdugo said. “Their goal was to get to the next level and we all agreed that is what we were going to move toward.”

The Vikings reached the third round of last year’s California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section playoffs, which makes the next level a mighty lofty place.

“Our goal is to compete for the CIF championship. We have a shot if we play to our potential. We just played and beat Ayala (in Chino Hills), a ranked team,” Verdugo said. “They didn’t play poorly, we just played great. If we continue to play like we are, and continue like we did against Ayala, I say we could compete for the title.”

The Vikings dominated the game 77-55 on Ayala’s home court and is considered to be the team’s greatest triumph thus far this season.

“We have a good chance to compete in any game we play. That win has really defined the team the most,” Verdugo said of the victory on Jan. 19.

While the Vikings have gone 4-0 on its home court, the team’s record away from the friendly confines of Samohi has been a hallmark. The team is 4-1 on the road and 9-3 at neutral sites. Aside from the Ayala game, the team has registered big wins at Santa Barbara High School and at rival Beverly Hills.

“We come in with the same mental frame as we do at home,” Verdugo said. “We made it a goal to win big games on the road this year. We lost at Norco [during last year’s playoffs] on the road. That game made us realize that we are going to have to win on the road.”

The success of the past couple seasons has ingrained the team with a certain sense of accomplishment. They speak fondly of their coach and of their teammates and seem to be enjoying the adoration that comes with a winning record.

“It feels good,” Keating said. “We walk around school and are proud everywhere we go. We have a buzz going around school for our team and that really makes a big difference. Our determination to be the best we can be and playing to our potential and our commitment to working hard has really started to pay off.”

Verdugo, in his second season at the helm, approaches the game with a defensive mindset, but realizes that points are what win ball games. After spending most of last season as a defense first, offense second ball club, he knew that a couple of adjustments had to be made to help the team transform itself from an also ran into a real contender.

“Everybody seems to be circling our name on the schedule especially in the league. We know that we have to play our best to get to where we want to go,” Verdugo said.

To get there he’s had to focus on scoring, but doesn’t want to stray too far from the formula that has made the team somewhat of a powerhouse in the area.

“The girls came in this year understanding the system. We changed our philosophy a bit. We do a little more shooting. Now we can outscore more of our opponents,” he said.

After a short lull following his response, he added, “We will always be defensive minded, though.”

Verdugo’s approach to the game has given his squad a sense of urgency. Scoring, defending, preparing — this team seems to be learning the secret to success under his tutelage.

“We’re all willing to do whatever it takes to get the win,” said Feder.

Her performance this season puts an exclamation mark on her statement. In addition to being one of the team’s top defenders either outside or in the post, she has nailed 67 three-pointers this year, showing the kind of versatility it takes to win championships.

daniela@smdp.com