Cougars set to challenge for title in loaded Jayhawk West
The Barton County Community College women's basketball team did what it could to put itself in position to compete for the Jayhawk West basketball title this year.
Problem is the West is not going to be easy to win.
Take into account the fact that Seward County has spent much of the past two seasons as the No. 1 ranked team in the country, only to be beaten in the Region VI finals the last two years. The Saints record is 66-0 over those two seasons without the Region VI title game factored in. Oh, and just about all the Saints return this season.
Add to the fact the Cloud County won the National Championship last year and return their top player and it is easy to see why winning the West will be a hard task.
But the Cougars appear to be ready to attempt that challenge.
The Cougars have several players back from last year's team that made it to the Region VI semifinals after placing third in the Jayhawk West. That Cougars will tip off their 2001-02 season Friday when Barton County plays host to Des Moines (Iowa) Area Community College in a 6 p.m. tip as part of the Pepsi Classic at the Barton County Gym. The Cougar women will also play Saturday at 6 p.m. against St. Clair (Mich.) County Community College.
Leading the list of returnees is 6-2 sophomore Jenny Brown. Brown played in all 33 games last year, starting 29 of them. The Pleasanton, Neb. native averaged 8.9 points and led the team with 6.8 rebounds per contest.
"Jenny's a good scorer and is versatile enough to cause match-up problems," Coach Don Kayser said.
Another returning starter for the Cougars will be 5-8 sophomore Briana Book.
Book, an Emporia High School graduate, scored 9.0 points per contest and grabbed 4.5 rebounds. Book also had 61 steals, third on the team.
"Briana is a very intense player that will bring a lot of great experience to this team," Coach Kayser said. "She understands how hard you have to play to be successful at this level."
Two more players return with several starts under their belt as well.
Stacy Lee started 11 games for the Cougars her freshman season. Lee, a 5-8 guard/forward, excelled from the outside last season, leading Barton County in 3-pointers made, hitting 49-of-142 for 35 percent.
The Randolph product scored 9.0 points a contest and also hit 74 percent of her free throws.
"Stacy is a young lady that has a great knowledge and love for the game," Coach Kayser said. "She is a very talented and will be relied upon to give us leadership and scoring."
Melissa Cox started nine games for the Cougars her freshman season, scoring 6.3 points a game and grabbing 4.2 rebounds. Cox, a 6-0 forward from Thayer, made 80 free throws while shooting 73 percent from the line. Her 80 made charity tosses was second on the team for Barton County.
"Melissa is a very athletic young lady," Coach Kayser said. "She rebounds well and has worked hard to move her game more to the perimeter this year."
Two more letterwinnners return for the Cougars this season as well.
Lisa Jeffrey, a sophomore guard from Claflin, played in 30 games last year for Barton County. Jeffrey scored 2.9 points a contest and hit 13 3-pointers for Barton as a freshman.
"Lisa is a returner that will be counted on to fill a bigger role as a sophomore," Coach Kayser said. "She shoots the ball very well and has improved the rest of her game."
Also back after earning a letter last season is Jenny Urban. Urban, a 5-8 forward from Burrton, played in 18 games as a freshman, scoring 1.7 points a game.
"Jenny is a kid with a lot of heart," Coach Kayser said. "Jenny worked hard to improve herself over the summer."
Several new faces will get extensive playing time this year for the Cougars as well.
One area of concentration for Coach Kayser in recruiting was the front line, where a pair of 6-3 players were brought in.
Tatjana Kiseljova, a 6-3 forward from Estonia, is one of those recruits. Kiseljova scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds a game at Pae High School.
"Tatjana brings a lot of skill to our team," Coach Kayser said. "She is extremely talented and will give us help both inside and on the perimeter."
Another 6-3 product comes form Bucklin High School. Lesley-Ann Minnis will play for the Cougars after scoring 17 points and grabbing 9 rebounds as a game as a senior at Bucklin.
"LA has a lot of potential and has a chance to be a great player here at Barton," Coach Kayser said. "Her size and strength will be a great asset to our program."
Another player brought in to help with front-line work is 6-0 freshman Katharina Vargas-Sotomonte. The Germany product scored 30 points a game last year at Olching High School in Germany.
"Kat has amazing athletic ability and will be a great player for us once she understands the American style," Coach Kayser said. "She will be counted on to give us rebounding and do all the little things in the paint."
The remainder of the new faces will help on the perimeter for the Cougars.
Sarah Kendrick transferred to Barton County after playing one year for the University of Texas-San Antonio. Kendrick averaged just three points a game at UTSA last season but as a senior at San Antonio Christian High School, Kendrick tossed in 23 points a game as a senior and added 6 assists and 9 rebounds as well.
"Sarah will be an important player for us because of her versatility," Coach Kayser said. "She will play two or three positions for us and see a lot of time on the floor."
Another high-scoring recruit for Coach Kayser is 5-8 freshman Laura Irvine. While at Bayview Secondary School in Richmond Hill, Canada, Irvine scored 25 points a contest.
"Laura brings a lot of athletic ability to our team," Coach Kayser said. "She is very dangerous because she shoots it so well and can also get to the basket."
Another bit of foreign flavor to the team will come from Yugoslavian Kristina Grbich. The 5-9 guard scored 15 points a game last season for XI Beogradska.
"Kris is going to be a great guard for our program," Coach Kayser said. "She is extremely quick and should develop into a defensive stopper for us."
Two more Kansas products will also be new to the roster this season for the Cougars.
Michelle Deighton joins the Cougars from just down the road in Macksville. As a senior for the Mustangs, Deighton scored 15 points a contest.
"Michelle has a chance to make a huge impact as a freshman," Coach Kayser said. "Once she adjust to the speed and physical nature of the college game, she will be a huge part of our success."
Also new this year from Kansas is 5-5 guard Kacey Callihan. Callihan joins the Cougars after graduating from Abilene High School.
"Kacey is an athletic young lady that brings a lot of energy to the team," Coach Kayser said. "She is always smiling and seems to keep the team in good spirits all the time."
The Cougars will be challenged right out of the gate in Jayhawk West play, traveling to the defending national champion Cloud County to open Jayhawk West play. That is followed by a trip to Seward County, the two-time defending Jayhawk West champion.