NCMC Women Ready To Start Play

Oct 31, 2002 | Sports & Recreation

The North Central Missouri College Lady Pirates are looking to build off last season?s success.

NCMC is hoping that with six returning players they can match or improve on the 2001-02 season.

?We have an excellent group of returners,? Head Coach Max Mothersbaugh said. ?This group works very hard on the basketball court as well as in the classroom, which is exactly what you want as a coach.?

The Lady Pirates welcome back three guards from last season. Sophomore Heather Davis spent all of last season at the point guard position for NCMC and led the team in assists

?Davis brings toughness to the point guard position,? Mothersbaugh said. ?She has a good understanding of our offense and will do a great job running this team.?

Sophomore Ashley Berry looked to be on track early last season before being sidelined by an ankle injury. A now-healthy Ashley Berry brings the ability to play both the point guard and shooting guard positions.

?Ashley really seemed on track to having a great season last year before she got hurt,? Mothersbaugh said. ?So far Ashley looks to be back on track and should have a solid year for us.?

Shawnee Mitchell rounds out the list of returning sophomore guards. Mitchell hit on 39 percent of her three-point attempts last season.

?Shawnee is a true three-point shooting threat,? Mothersbaugh said.

Inside, the Lady Pirates have several women returning. NCMC will be very deep at the forward position, with three women back to fill that slot. Sophomores Jaymi Blackmore and Rochelle Davitt will both spend time at the four and five spots.

?Both Rochelle and Jaymi have made huge strides in their games over the off-season,? Mothers-baugh said. ?They will help anchor a very deep and talented group of post players.?

Sophomore Lesli Wyatt will bounce back and forth between the small forward and the shooting guard positions.

?Lesli can take you inside and score on you, but at the same time defenders have to respect her outside shot,? Mothersbaugh said.

The Lady Pirates also welcome five newcomers this season. Stephanie Beason and Bridgette Berry will add depth to a talented group of guards in the backcourt.

?If I have a concern right now, it?s our depth at the guard position,? Mothersbaugh said. ?We have some very good guards, but if we get some people hurt, we will be in a lot of trouble.?

Beason will step in immediately to compete for time on the floor. Bridgette Berry?s energy will provide the Lady Pirates with an instant charge of energy.

?Beason is the real deal. I expect that she will play a large role for us,? Mothersbaugh said. ?Bridgette is instant energy. She can come in and change the pace of the game at anytime.?

The Lady Pirates have three new girls to play inside. Casey Beavers is a player that can score inside and outside and is expected to compete for a starting position.

?Casey is a post player that moves very well,? Mothersbaugh said. ?She runs the floor very well and will be able to score inside. But she also can shoot the three-pointer.?

Jennifer Collier and Kandice Brawner will also see time under the basket for the Lady Pirates. Browner will bring a solid post defense while Collier is a physical player inside.

?We have several excellent post players,? Mothersbaugh said. ?All our girls are a threat to score, but they also pass the ball very well.?

The Lady Pirates are planning to open up their offense a little more this season. Look for NCMC to push the ball more. The Lady Pirates also have the luxury of good shooters in every position.

?I think we will push the ball more than we have in the past. Our post players are very quick and can run the floor very well,? Mothersbaugh said. ?But we are not going to be a team that runs just for running?s sake. I hate 90-80 ballgames. Great teams have the ability to run when it?s there, but also can execute their halfcourt offense and secondary breaks.?

The Lady Pirates host William Penn University?s junior varsity on Friday night at the Ketcham Community Center. The women?s game gets under way at 5:30.