Canyon girls basketball is tackling its way to toughness and overcoming inexperience

NEWHALL — Canyon girls basketball coach Jessica Haayer places a basketball on the ground between two players. For the next 30 seconds, their task is to keep the opponent from getting the ball. And there are few rules.

“There’s pushing, shoving, throwing,” Haayer said. “In the past couple of weeks, I’ve just been making them tackle each other.”

The Cowboys had a defensive wake-up call when they lost to Valencia 75-49 in early January. Since then, Haayer has ramped up the intensity at practices with pleasing results.