Santa Cruz Strong

About Us

Santa Cruz Strong Girls Basketball (SCS) is a nonprofit, positive coaching basketball experience for girls, 6th-8th grade.  Girls will play hard, thrive, and develop a rewarding work ethic.  We will have experienced women coaches for players with a low player to coach ratio.  Expert mentor coach, Todd Kent, will help guide our coaches in developement of progressive, seasonal coaching plans.  This will create an enviroment where girls have a clear path to progress as a player and as a team, positive role models, and where coaches can be supported in their own growth.

 

Fall: Practice on Sundays, 6/7, 8th and up.  Weekly open gym.

 

Spring: We will have two AAU travel teams.  We will practice 3 times a week and play in Bay Area tournaments twice a month as well as have a weekly open gym.  There will be a travel tournament in Reno for Memorial Weekend.  Price of $1450 includes uniform, practice jersey, sweatshirt, and all tournament entry fees.  There is a practice only option for $950.  Practices are all at B40, Tues/Thursday from 7-8:30, Sundays from noon-2.

 

Open Gym: Members of SCS are welcome to our open gym sessions.  This is a time for players to have fun playing together, get better at shooting and ball handling, and most importantly making tigher connections. 

 

Now accepting registrations for Summer 2025

 

Summer 2025: 4 week skills program.  Players will improve shooting, court awareness, passing, and playing while having fun.  Sundays for 3-5th graders. June 15th-July 6th, noon- 1pm at VHM schoo, 427 Capitola Road Extension. Players do not need to attend every week to imporve. Sign up following this link: https://forms.gle/ctGHvi8nE6iK5bh19

 

Weekly skills program on Sundays for 6 and 7th grade program as well as 8th grade and up. Players will work on shooting, passing, and defense.Players do not need to attend every week to imporve. First session June 15th-July 6th, second July 13th-Aug 3rd. 6-7th grade in fall, 12:45-2:15 for first session, noon-1:30 for second session. 8th grade and up, 2-3:30. Sign up using this link:   https://forms.gle/Duk4aTZVaNiGkrXp9

 

 

All players must have an individual membership to AAU www.aausport.org/parents

 

Staff

 

Delany McCann, Lead Coach Former D1 player, current assistant coach at UCSC

 

Ashley Harmon, Coach Former UCSC player, UCSC Female Athete of the Year. Coaching experience includes B40 middle school

 

Tyler Trader, Coach Former UCSC player, coaching experience includes assisting at UCSC and Soquel High

 

Renèe Parker , Coach Cabrillo college player

 

Todd Kent, Coaching Advisor.  30 years implementing basketball strategies.  Todd has a deep understanding of basketball offensive and defensive philosophy, transition and offensive concepts, terminology and implementaton.

 

Mary Lieby, Amy McEntee, Founders. Amy and Mary became aware of the lack of women coaches in female sports and decided to take action.  Together they created Santa Cruz Strong to promote women's coaching opportunities as well as provide crucial role models for girls in Santa Cruz.  Their goal is a community where coaches are given the mentoring and support they need as well as the players.  As players age, they in turn will be given the opportunities to learn how to coach.  This system allows players and coaches to flourish in a competitive and supportitive environment.

 

 

 

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Santa Cruz Strong is a nonprofit, positive coaching, basketball experience for girls, 6th-8th grade.  Girls will play hard, thrive, and develop a rewarding work ethic.  We will have experienced female coaches for the players and an expert mentor coach, Todd Kent.  Todd will help guide our coaches in developement of progressive, seasonal coaching plans.  This will create an environment where girls have a clear path to progress as a player and as a team, positive coaching role modes, and were coaches can be supported in their own growth.