W. Branch girls are tough enough

To what extent would you go to prepare your girls basketball team?
Chuck Campbell believes he has a formula that toughens his West Branch High girls for the rigors they'll face throughout the season.
He brings in the boys.
For parts of the last eight years, Campbell, in his 16th season with the Warriors, has selected a group of high school boys to practice with his team.
Usually, the boys are juniors or seniors who have played basketball at one time but have since narrowed their athletic choices.
"Normally they've just decided to go to football as their main sport," Campbell said. "They still want the exercise. A lot of times, they don't get many breaks when we're practicing."
From the start
Since Nov. 3, the Warriors have practiced with three boys full-time and another on a part-time basis in preparation for the 2003-04 season.
"Sometimes, [the girls are] a little bit intimidated early," Campbell said, "but this year's group really has been [competing] with the boys."
Campbell compares this season's West Branch team to the 1996-97 state-qualifiers, who lost to Vincent Warren in the semifinals.
It was that West Branch team that knocked off Garfield Heights Trinity and Semeka Randall, the former Tennessee standout now playing for the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA.
It was then that Campbell devised his formula.
"We knew she was a little stronger than most girls and quicker than a lot of the girls we played against in the past," Campbell said.
During practice, he had Jason Candle, one of the school's quickest boys, simulate Randall's role.
"He was one of the best athletes to come out of the school, as far as his speed and jumping ability," Campbell said of Candle, who played wide receiver for the Mount Union College football team.
"We really needed to find somebody who we thought compared speed-wise and could do some of the things she could," he said.
State trip
West Branch shocked the then-defending Division II state champions 52-48. Although Randall had 27 points, the Warriors held her to just 10 after halftime.
"I really thought that was a big key to beating Trinity that year," Campbell said of pitting Candle's skills against his girls'.
That was good enough for Campbell to continue the trend of welcoming boys to practice.
Early on, Campbell didn't allow the boys to leave their feet to block shots or come down off a rebound with elbows flying.
He's not so strict anymore.
"The group of girls I have is physical," the coach said. "They're a very athletic group, and I have not put any restrictions on the boys."
Returning talent
The Warriors (22-3) were one victory from the state tournament last season and appear strong enough to make a run this time.
"We return four starters from that team, and two players who came off the bench last year started a number of different games," Campbell said. "We really have six [returning] starters."
The talented lineup is led by 5-foot-8 senior Ashley Armstrong, a Dayton recruit, who may be the Warriors' best passer ever.
Junior Victoria Arndt (6-11/2), who averaged 131/2 points last season, is drawing attention from over 60 Division I programs.
Junior Stacy Braden (5-91/2) is the team's vocal leader, while junior Evelyn Woods (5-10) is one of the best defenders.
Senior Ellie Geiger (5-5) has shown tremendous improvement and is slated to be the starting point guard, and junior Vana Morgan (5-101/2) is a three-sport standout who brings a physical presence onto the court.
Together, they will work to put West Branch back on the state map -- with a little help from the boys.
XBrian Richesson covers high school sports for The Vindicator. Write to him at richesson@vindy.com.