WNCC women's basketball ready for season opener Friday on the road

There is plenty of optimism on this year’s Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team with six players returning from a year ago.

                The main thrust to the Cougars this season, however, will be their guard play, where WNCC coach Dave Harnish said this group could be one of the best.

                “I think we are better in the guard position,” Harnish said. “I think Sam, Kyra and Lisa have all progressed from last year, and having Kelsey, Idil and Angelica when she gets healthy, we will have solid guards. I think we are better at the guard position and we shoot a little better and quicker. That has been encouraging, but again, it depends how they perform in a game situation.”

                The Cougars are definitely deep at the guards as three guards that saw plenty of minutes a year ago return. They include Samantha Sanders, 5-6 of Denver; Lisa Durden, 5-8 of Inglewood, Calif., and Kyra Peterson, 5-8 of Lafayette, Colo. Also adding to the mix are three freshmen guards that have showed plenty of talent. They include Idil Ozbayrak, 5-8 of Turkey; Kelsey Doddridge, 5-8 of Windsor, Colo., and Angelica Weaver, 5-8 of Houston, Texas.

                In fact, Harnish is pleased with the progress of all the freshmen so far.

                “I am happy with the freshmen’s progress,” he said. “ I think they have stepped up and made huge strides. That is always key when you are in the junior college division because the freshmen have to play a lot of minutes. I am happy with their production.”

                Besides Doddridge, Ozbayrak and Weaver, the other freshmen on the team include Teyshonnia Bealer-West, 5-9 of San Diego, Calif.; Jessica Aratani, 5-11 of Morrill; Ajsa Zdovc, 6-1 of Slovania; and Melike Talcinkkaya, 6-2 of Turkey.

                The other returners from last year’s 28-5 team include Jasmine Shaffer, 5-3 of Ft. Lupton, Colo., Leona Garrett, 6-0 of Brawley, Calif.; and ChaCha Ofoegbu, 5-11 of Cerritos, Calif.

                Harnish said after five weeks of practice and scrimmages against Hastings College and Metro State, the defense is looking strong.

                “I think in the scrimmages we have had, we have gotten better defensively and we have blocked out better than we have in the last couple of years in trying to stop the ball,” he said. “That has been a strong point. Hopefully we can carry that over and continue playing with intensity and be solid defensively, and hopefully we get better offensively as the year goes along.”

                WNCC will open the season Nov. 4-5 at the Williston State Invite before heading to the Colby Classic Nov. 10-12. The Cougars first home contests will be Nov. 17 when they face Colorado Christian junior varsity and then Nov. 19 when they host Ft. Carson.

                Harnish said the key for this team is to play tough defense and let the offense come along. If that is the case, he sees good things in store for the team.

                “Right know we have to be solid defensively and at this time of the year, the offense will continue to grow and get better,” he said. “We definitely improved from the Hastings scrimmage to the Metro scrimmage. Our free throw shooting was also better. Are we there yet? No, but you don’t expect to be at this time of the year.”

                Harnish, however, really isn’t concerned about his opponents early on – WNCC will open up Friday against Williston State at 6 p.m. and then take on Lake Region State College on Saturday. What is more important to him is he wants to see his team improve and play smart.

                “At this time of the year you have to worry about yourself,” he said. “You have to go and make yourself better. These games are preparing us for our conference play and for the regional tournament. Yes, it is nice to come out with wins, but it is the understanding that we are learning as we go and we have to get better.”

                Harnish added that the team is ready to get the season underway.

                “Every team is excited for the first game,” he said. “We have been practicing for five weeks and I would hope they are excited. We have been working hard for six weeks in pre-season conditioning and five weeks in practice and it all comes out Friday night. If they are not excited, there is something wrong with them. The first game of the year is always exciting.”