Q & A: Governor Mifflin head coach Mike Clark

Mike Clark, 51, is in his fourth season as head coach of the Governor Mifflin girls’ basketball team, having arrived from Oley Valley for the 2012-13 season. Clark is steward over a program that is 39-8 in its last 47 games, dating back to the start of last season. The Mustangs won the Berks League playoff title a year ago and have followed that up with a stellar 20-1 campaign through this past weekend. Mifflin currently sits in second place in the District 3-AAAA power rankings as it gears up for the postseason. We talked to Clark following his club’s 65-51 home win over Pottsville on Saturday.

Q: Here we are at the end of January. In your wildest dreams, did you ever think your Mustangs would be 20-1?

 

Clark: I thought we could win 18, because we beefed our schedule up — Boyertown, Central Dauphin; we played PV (Perkiomen Valley) and they we seventh in the state when we beat ‘em. Berks Catholic. But nah, I didn’t think we’d be 20-1. Maybe 18-3.

 

Q: Outside of that Central Dauphin game (a 58-51 loss on Dec. 14), what do you think has been the key? You guys do run a bit small.

 

A: Well, our starting point guard, Emonie Rievere, is hurt right now (eye). So she’s not even playing. I tell the girls, our five seniors, ‘this is your last year. You want to out with a bang. You give me 110-percent, I’ll scout, I’ll coach and I’ll give you 110-percent.’ … We know we’re small. So we know what we need to do to get them to rebound and do the little things. Our speed helps out with our (lack of) size.

 

Q: What is biggest difference with the program between now and 2012, when you got here?

 

A: When I came here, I brought my system with me. My daughter, Allison (Lawson) is an assistant coach. She played for West Chester U. I’m basically fitting the girls into the system. (Guard) Melissa Martin started JV as a freshman when I came here four years ago, came off the bench and never came out. Madison Koehler and Kyle Herman, I started them as freshman. So that’s three freshman who are learning everything I’ve got. So this is where we’re at right now. Jenn Martin, she’s only a junior, so she started with it in eighth grade. TaShonna (Wright-Gaskins), she’s only a freshman now. I went down and worked with her in sixth grade. She knows the system. That’s what we do. All the way through.

 

Q: How would you describe your system?

 

A: (laughs) I try to mimic the college level. I tell the girls that it’s my job to get you seen by colleges. But you’ve got to be able to shoot the 3, everybody’s got to be able to handle the ball. Even my bigs try it and all that. I put them in positions were they can look good for colleges. … I work with you in elementary school through high school, I know what you can and can’t do by then. And then I put you into the system and into (a position to succeed). And to make the colleges understand that this is a girl you can take a look at.  … We play up and down. We score 80 points, we score 70 points, yeah, but that’s the way we practice, that’s the way we play. Not to slow it down, not to win the game with one player scoring 80. I coach ‘em all the same way, No. 12 player to No. 1.

 

Q: The D-3 playoffs are a whole different animal. Have you talked to girls at all about the postseason yet?

 

A: Oh, yes. And that’s why we’ve got to keep playing this way. It’s about winning the district title. And to compete with the Mid-Penn, the L-L, we‘ve got to keep playing his way no matter what. It’s why I scheduled a lot of those teams. They all play in-your-face ball. They’re getting prepared for it. As long as they listen to me and our coaching staff (laughs).