Starting a team from scratch is never easy, but for a coach with a resume like Lisa Ingram’s, the task hasn’t been quite as difficult as it could have been.

Ingram has long been regarded as one of Broward County’s best girls’ basketball players and was an All-American during her career at Coral Springs. She led the Colts to a state title in 1979 and had a professional career in Europe.

So when Ingram took over as the girls’ coach at Coral Glades last season, she brought experience and instant credibility to the first-year program. The Jaguars finished with a respectable 12-8 mark, and this year are off to a 10-3 start that has Ingram believing coaching can be just as rewarding as playing.

“I went into this to get a feel for it,” Ingram said. “I’m happy and overwhelmed with how they’ve reacted last year and this year. They’ve come out and played strong and they have confidence.”

The Jaguars already have overcome one of the biggest challenges a young team can face. Starter Robin Trigoboff, one of the team’s few seniors, suffered a knee injury and hasn’t returned. Up stepped sophomore point guard Fabiola Josil, who has a solid outside shot and is leading the team with 22 points per game. Moreen McCarthy, Heather Goodwin and Melody Campbell also have contributed to the team’s quick start.

Ingram also believes that keeping her varsity and junior varsity players together has helped the Jaguars’ success. The two teams practice at the same time, and when junior varsity players are moved up, they already know Ingram’s style and plays.

“I try to stay on the same pattern with both of them,” Ingram said. “When the girls get in games, they know what to do. And when the JV girls make the turn, they know what to do. I don’t want to separate them.”

The formula already has proven successful, and Ingram, who admits she didn’t know what to expect when she took the job at Coral Glades, is just hopeful her players will get to experience basketball the way she did.

“I told them all that I already had my share and I loved it,” Ingram said. “But I let them know I can’t do it for them. I want them to do it for themselves, and I want people to see that little school out in Coral Springs has a lot of talent.”

Football odds and ends

Chaminade-Madonna, which won the 2A state football championship for the second time in three years earlier this month, finished in No. 4 in the final Beef O’Brady’s All-Classification Top 25 state poll, the highest finish for any Broward County team. St. Thomas Aquinas, the 5A runner-up, was No. 7.

Lakeland, the 5A state champion, took the top spot….

Pembroke Pines Charter quarterback Kitoko Poblah, who helped lead an offense that averaged 300 yards, has orally committed to Central Michigan. …

Former Western offensive lineman Alex Derenthal was named an honorable mention freshman All-American by The Sporting News after a solid season at Temple. Derenthal was one of nine players to start in each of Temple’s 11 games and was voted the team’s co-most improved player after spring drills.

Coach named

Sagemont School has hired Tommy Martinez to coach its baseball program.

Martinez, who previously coached at Florida Bible, has led teams to six district titles and two appearances in the state tournament.

He inherits a team that finished 12-8 last season.

Christy Cabrera Chirinos can be reached at .