Prep basketball: Gulf Coast girls motivated to build on Final Four appearance

One more game.

The Gulf Coast High School girls basketball team starts every practice with its new mantra to remind themselves what they're playing for.

Last year, the loaded Gulf Coast squad's historical run reached as far as the 8A Final Four last season, picking up the program's first-ever regional title and its first district crown in 14 years. The Sharks weren't satisfied, so this season, they plan to go one game further.

"One more game" would the program's first-ever appearance in a state championship game — winning it wouldn't be so bad, either.

"We have some pretty big expectations this year," Gulf Coast coach Mark Woodruff said. "Our girls aren't afraid to put in the work."

Last season:Gulf Coast falls to Winter Haven in 8A state semifinals

A 27-point loss to Winter Haven in the 8A semifinal wasn't the only thing that left the Sharks with a bad taste in their mouth on how their historic season ended. Just a few minutes into the game, point guard Mya Giusto went down with an ACL injury.

The Sharks couldn't recover.

"It's hard seeing your sister go down like that," Gulf Coast junior Yasmeen Chang said. "That really motivated us, I feel like we want it more this season."

When healthy, Giusto was the team's third-highest scorer, averaging 9.1 points and 7.6 assists as a sophomore last season. She averaged 9.0 points and 5.3 assists the year prior at Community School. 

Giusto, who verbally committed to Division II powerhouse University of Tampa, attacked rehab and was cleared to play in September.

"It's stronger than it's ever been," Giusto said. "I'm feeling good, feeling confident."

The Sharks also will be returning a deep, star-studded roster that returns nine of their top 10 scorers from last year. 

Chang, who was named both the Daily News' Athlete of the Year and Player of the Year in her sport, returns for her second year with the Sharks after verbally committing to the University of Miami last month.

More:2017 Naples Daily News All-Area Girls Basketball Team

The 5-foot-9 guard led Collier County in scoring last season as she averaged 20.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game. Chang improved as the season progressed and was deadly in the regional playoffs, averaging 30.3 points per game. 

She will be even more lethal in her junior season.

"I've been working a lot on my left hand," Chang said. "That was my biggest weakness last season. I learned some new moves, too. I'm excited." 

Add sharpshooter Jordan Cloutier — one of just four seniors on the Sharks' squad this season. Cloutier averaged 18.1 points and made a team-high 47 3-pointers last season.

"This year we're coming back with vengeance," Cloutier said. "We want to take those things we did last year and get even further. We want to get to the state championship and win it."

Cloutier will be able to focus on her senior season without having to worry about where she'll end up in the fall. The 5-7 guard's signed with mid-major Stetson last week. 

Last week:Six Gulf Coast athletes sign with Division I schools

Gulf Coast also adds junior Sydney Eugene, a transfer from Community School who's  athleticism will nicely complement the Sharks' run-and-gun style of offense. 

"She's unlike anything we've had at Gulf Coast before," Woodruff said. "She definitely improves our athleticism and lets us do things defensive-scheme wise where we can take advantage of that."

Eugene, a 5-10 forward/center, has been welcomed by the team with open arms.

"She might've been the missing piece to our puzzle last year," Giusto said. "She's going to be a huge asset to us."

As deep as the Sharks' talent pool is, players know there are no guaranteed minutes on Woodruff's team.

"We're very competitive at practice," he said. "The girls know that they have to maintain that level and progress in order to keep their time on the court." 

The Sharks have a long road ahead, beginning with their first game of a tough schedule on Tuesday against Lely.

Later on, Gulf Coast will play in two national tournaments, first in Washington, D.C., at the She Got Game Classic, then back home at the Naples Holiday Shootout. They'll add an appearance at the SUTS New Year Classic and tilts against state powerhouses Fort Myers and Tallahassee-Lincoln. 

"We want to get to the finals, but we don't just want to get to the finals, we want to end the season with a win," Giusto said. "What we really want is a state title and we're not going to give up until we get it."

"We'll be back in Lakeland, that's all I know."