Santa Cruz Strong

About Us

Santa Cruz Strong Girls Basketball (SCS) is a nonprofit, positive coaching basketball experience for girls, 6th-9th 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.

 

Now accepting registrations for Summer 2025

 

Summer 2025 Girls entering 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade in Fall 2025:

SCS is exctied to host a weekly skills camp on Sundays at Harbor High.  All levels are welcome.  Girls will work on ball handeling, passing, shooting, and defense.  Coaches will be Velana Lieby and Megan McFadden, with Tyler Trader as the head coach. Skills practice is on Sundays, June 22nd-July 6th from 10-11am.  Each pracitce works on individual skills, it is ok if a player misses practice. Space is limited. Sign up following this link: https://forms.gle/ctGHvi8nE6iK5bh19

 

Summer 2025 Girls entering 6&7, 8th & up in Fall 2025

Weekly skills program on Sundays at Harbor High.  Two sessions, June 22-July 6th, July 13-Aug 3.  6&7th, Session 1: 11-12:30, Session 2: 12-1:30.  8th grade and up Session 1: 11:30-1, Session 2: 1:30-3. Players will work on ball handeling, shooting, passing, and defense. Players do not need to attend every week to imporve. Space is limited. 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, 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.