A trio of guards dubbed "Run T-M-P" has Saugatuck poised for another title season.
SAUGATUCK - The Saugatuck girls basketball team introduced "Run T-M-P" to the courts in a banner season a year ago. This year, it is in full force.
"Run T-M-P" is an homage to the Golden State Warriors Hall of Fame Trio "Run T-M-C" - Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin (itself an homage to the hip-hop group Run DMC) - who ran the floor with reckless abandon.
Saugatuck's version is "T-M-P" - Talia (Laskowski), Mylah (Simpson) and Penny (Grob).
The trio of guards lives up to the name with in-your-face pressure defense leading to all sorts of transition baskets on the run.
"(Defensive positing) is such a big thing and we have to credit our coaches for that. They make sure we are game-ready," Simpson said.
Last year, they led the Trailblazers to a conference title and a district championship.
"Defense is going to be the key for us. Scoring shouldn't ever be a big problem. Our size isn't big this year so being in the right spots defensively will be key," Laskowski said.
Laskowski had 10 steals and 20 points, while Simpson scored 17 in a 57-42 win over Martin on Friday, Dec. 12, at home.
"We are a scrappy team and our effort was great. We guarded hard and played with composure. That is two games to start the season where composure was important and they settled the ship," Saugatuck coach Kevin Tringali said. "I have been coaching in this league my whole career and you are really blessed if you have one good guard, and on occasion you would have two or have to go up against two, which is a tough cover. To have three at the same time is just unbelievable - and they are phenomenal kids."
More about "T" - Talia Laskowski
Talia is a defensive wizard.
Last year, she earned first-team all-state honors after averaging seven steals per game. Yes, SEVEN.
Sometimes stats can seem inflated, but this reporter watched her snag 12 steals in two different games last year, so her wizardry is legit.
"Honestly, it is something that totally kind of grew instinctually," she said. "It is based on the desire for the ball. Timing is everything. When it hits the ground, that is my moment."
It is something that impressed Tringali immediately.
"She has a knack for it. She keeps that hand low and knows exactly what she is doing," he said. "There is a method to her madness. It is usually clean. Between her IQ and athleticism, you don't want her guarding you."
Oh, she can score, too.
"It was so nice to have someone new join the team and she brought so much energy on and off the court," Grob said.
Most of those steals led to fastbreak layups and the senior guard has picked up right where she left off last year when she joined the program after being homeschooled.
"It was such an easy transition. The team made it easy for me and having teammates who play like me, fast-paced, it was a great thing to come into," Laskowski said.
More about "M" - Mylah Simpson
Mylah is the younger sister of all-state player Brooke Simpson, who signed with Bowling Green and has transferred to Loyola Chicago.
Mylah is a tall junior guard who uses her length to force turnovers. She is one of the best players in area history at getting deflections. She will get her hand on that ball one way or another even coming back from a shoulder injury.
"She is an amazing shooter," Laskowski said. "She is great at the line. She is such a high-IQ player. Being able have teammates like this makes us kind of a dynamic trio."
Oh yeah, she can score, too.
Mylah, who has gotten multiple NCAA Division I offers, averaged nearly 20 points per game last season. She has a great midrange and can also hit the 3.
"Her leadership is huge. She is quiet and leads by example, but athletically, she is an absolute gift," Tringali said. "Her IQ is through the roof and she is all about the greater good of the team."
More about "P" - Penny Grob
Penny, a junior guard, came in as a freshman with a decent 3-point shot and the ability to run the floor.
As a sophomore, her 3-point shot became a huge weapon for the Trailblazers, giving the team yet another scoring option.
"What Penny has done really doesn't have a lot to do with basketball, she has just grown up since her freshman year," Tringali said. "To see the journey of a kid like that is so rewarding. She is just shining."
Penny's defense has gotten better year by year, and while she has been extremely good as part of the full-court press, her halfcourt defense has grown tremendously, allowing the team to lockdown multiple scorers from other teams.
"Her growth has been phenomenal. I am so proud of how much she has grown as a person and a player," Simpson said. "She is getting to the spots she needs to and her 3s are great. She is doing so well pushing it up the floor."
And she hasn't lost her 3-point touch, either.
"Last year it really felt put together," Grob said. "We are all going to have to be aggressive and do different jobs than we have done. It will have to be more family and team-like but we are improving on that very quickly."
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Saugatuck girls basketball led by 'Run T-M-P' trio of stellar guars
Category: General Sports
