GAME ON: Middletown’s Coach Is Scoring In Transition

GAME ON: Middletown’s Coach Is Scoring In Transition

Michael Yates hasn’t changed his coaching style, but has witnessed a remarkable turnaround to his team’s record. From 2-14 a year ago to 10-0 this season, you can hear the same demanding voice echoing through Middletown’s Girls basketball gym. “Get after it. Go get it,” he tells his girls in a self-described strict tone. Their recent success has been keyed by a triangle offense of sorts: good coaching from Yates, a determined and experienced group of players, and a critical third factor-being granted the opportunity to play in Division III.

Every four years, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League reviews the divisional placement of every team within each sport, assessing three tiers of competition for most sports: Division I, II, and III. Through realignment, the RIIL tries to maintain equal levels of competition amongst same-sized schools, using an algorithm to propose its amendments: a school’s win/loss record accounts for 60 percent and its enrollment for 40 percent. This 2010-2011 winter season, new realignments have taken effect, and while some schools protest a move-up, others welcome a transition-down, such as Coach Yates’s Islanders.

Four Years

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Over the past four years, Middletown (700 students) has experienced a Lilliputian life in the world of girls basketball, dwarfed by the girth of their Division II-East competition, such as East Providence (2,000 students) and Portsmouth (1,100 students) - both of which have been bumped up to Division I. The Islanders never reached the postseason or achieved more than seven victories in a given season during that stretch, and were clearly not in the proper weight-class. Coach Yates acknowledges his team’s good fortune with realignment, but knows that not all schools share his satisfaction: “It depends on your situation, on the feel of your team.” Realignment gave Middletown’s girls basketball program new life.

Change of Venue

A change of venue was just one piece to Middletown’s incredible transformation, needing the passion of Coach Yates to guide the turnaround. Now in his second season as Varsity Head Coach, the Islanders are thriving under his direction. After going a combined 3-30 over the past two seasons, he has invigorated the Islanders and ignited their fast start in Division III: “My girls don’t want to lose,” Yates says. “We work hard, we play hard, we press, we run.”

Yates notes the leadership of his four seniors-Kirsten Perry, Lauren Paiva, Taylor O’Malley, and Mersina Simanski-and praises their attitude: “they really came to play this year…they are more basketball savvy.” Yates coached many of his current players in Middle School, and glows at the girls’ development, applauding them as “excellent athletes” who have bonded beyond the court. Middletown High has never won a Girls Basketball Championship, but Yates already feels a great sense of fulfillment watching this team grow: “Even more than basketball players, they are all smart, intelligent young ladies.” If they keep up the pace, they might be champions come March.