City Force Team Helps Girls Reach Higher in Basketball

Phil Chase was one of about 25 spectators watching a girls basketball game at Crenshaw High during the Watts Summer Games. He was the only fan critiquing the play during a one-sided game between Crenshaw and Compton Centennial.

“If that girl was guarding a telephone poll, she would need weakside help,” Chase said. “Where is the defense on that play?”

Although he stopped coaching high school basketball in 1992, the former Washington High coach is still working with City Section players. He is the founder, organizer, financier and coach of City Force, a traveling Amateur Athletic Union girls’ basketball team in its second year.

“The problem with girls’ basketball players from the City (Section) is that they don’t get scholarships,” said Chase, who led Washington to four consecutive City 4-A titles between 1988 and 1992.

“The perception by college coaches is that City players are fast and athletic but do not have the fundamental skills to play college ball.”

City Force is made up of 14- to 16-year-old players from the City Section. Among the 12 players are Kanisha Best of Washington, Florastine Hillis of Fremont, Kristi Lattin of Crenshaw, Ruby Maciel of South Gate, Naila Moseley of Crenshaw and Aisha Savage of Fremont.

Chase believes the extra playing time with an all-star team will increase the success rate of City players getting scholarships.

“I’m trying to put the girls in a situation where they can get as much exposure as possible,” said Chase, adding that these players need to learn something more than an up-tempo style. “Most teams in the City play a run-and-gun style offense. Those teams who are not fast enough play walk-and-gun. I’m trying to teach team concepts and defense.”

The top boys’ basketball players often receive all-expense-paid trips to national camps sponsored by major shoe companies, but City Force members must organize candy sales, raffles and other fund-raisers to pay for their trips.

Chase estimates the traveling expenses at about $1,500 a player.

“It’s taking quite a bit of effort to raise money for this team,” said Chase, who volunteers his time. “But if at least one player gets a scholarship, it will be worth it.”