In the crawl/walk/run process of program building, Santa Fe Waldorf is just entering the walk stage.

Unfortunately, the rest of Class B is up and running.

The Lady Wolves find themselves in catch-up mode because of a coaching change made three weeks ago. Change has been abundant since then.

The record since the removal of Anthony Gonzales as head coach and the insertion of former head man Daniel Wendland is 1-5, and that includes a 50-42 nondistrict loss to Evangel Christian on Monday evening in the Fort Marcy Complex.

However, the Lady Wolves are starting to get on the same page.

The players are understanding Wendland's system better. The coach is evaluating the talent he has and how to use it better.

Still, time is of the essence for Waldorf, and there isn't much left.

"I had been with these girls earlier and had more time to spend some time on it, maybe we'd be in a better place right now," Wendland said. "But I don't have time to work on that. I have to go through what we're going to do when the game's on because we are in the game schedule now."

Wendland, who is also the school's athletic director, took over when Gonzales was let go before the Mountaineer Invitational in Reserve two weeks ago. Wendland said it was a move made in the best interest of the program.

Lauren Gary, a freshman forward, said it was a tense atmosphere under Gonzales, which led to in-fighting amongst the players and coaches.

"[Gonzales] was more involved in winning than in getting us to learn the game," Gary said. "Wendland wants us to do that [learn]. Like [Monday], we played our hearts out and made shots that were good."

Gary did her part, scoring
11 points and providing a presence in the paint that the Lady Wolves haven't had since the program began five years ago.

Her basket to open the fourth quarter got Waldorf to within 36-33, which was as close as it got.

What plagued the Lady Wolves were turnovers (28) and soft defense in the first quarter that the Lady Eagles exploited for a 19-12 lead.

The turnovers were as much a product of overanxious players and their feet as it was the defensive pressure of Evangel Christan.

"That comes with nerves, as well as more reps," Wendland said.

The Lady Wolves showed what they were capable of over the final three quarters, though.

Evangel Christian scored 31 points the rest of the way, and had to rely on the guard tandem of Rachel Gonzales and Maddie Love to carry much of that load.

They combined for 21 points over that stretch, and hit crucial shots to keep Waldorf at bay.

Love knocked down a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left in the third to extend Evangel Christian's advantage to 36-29. Gonzales hit a free throw after Gary's make in the fourth for 38-33. A Love 18-footer with 3:46 to go upped the margin to 42-37.

Still, Waldorf battled back. When Keifer Nace hit a pair of free throws to complete a 13-point effort, the Lady Wolves were within 45-42 at 2:01.

"We could have had that game," Gary said. "But we get so excited and then we fall part."

It happened when Gary, then junior Sophia Richard fouled out 21 seconds after Nace's makes. Waldorf had only one reserve, and had to play with just four on the floor after that.

"We were in it," Wendland said. "We had a chance."

It's a better position than where Waldorf was two weeks ago, but they have only a month to learn how to run.

Contact James Barron at jbarron@sfnewmexican.com or 986-3045. Read his blog at thereadbarron.com.