New coach, again. New attitude. New direction.
Allen County Community College’s women’s team is loaded with freshmen. Two returning sophomores from last year’s 3-27 team lead the way for the Red Devils into the 2011-2012 basketball season.
The Red Devils open the season Tuesday at Pratt.
“We’re so versatile as a group. Most of our players can play several different positions. Plus we just work hard in practices and on the court,” said Mark James, who became seventh head coach in 10 years for the ACCC women’s basketball program.
James is no stranger to Jayhawk Conference basketball. James was an assistant coach at Independence Community College for several years and a year at Pittsburg State University.
James also brought with him out of both ICC and Pittsburg State Aubrey Jones as his assistant coach. Jones played basketball at both schools and was an assistant coach at PSU.
“Aubrey is great and the kids love her. She’s who the players can go to when I’m yelling at them. She’s lived it and knows what it takes to succeed at this level and the next,” James said.
Allen County went 1-17 in Jayhawk Eastern Division play last year. They started the season at 2-1 then had an 17-game losing streak before beating Neosho County 54-45 at home on Jan. 29.
With that in mind, conference coaches put the Red Devils at the bottom of their preseason poll released Monday.
“That’s all right. We’re not a last-place team. We’re going to be competitive. The girls didn’t like that and we’ll play with a little chip on our shoulders I think,” James said.
James also pointed to the leadership of sophomores Rackell Goldson and Kandace Shields as vital to how well the team is progressing.
“They bought into our system when we came in the spring. It would be tough to ask for any better two sophomores. They lead by example,” James said.
Goldson was ACCC’s leading scorer last year with 274 points. She was third on the team in rebounding with 141; 105 came off the defensive glass.
Goldson is a 5-7 guard who shot 31 percent from the field. She also was 29 percent from three-point range, hitting 32 of 111 attempts.
“Rackell has talent and is second to none on her work ethic. She’s pretty focused,” James said.
Goldson was 72 percent from the free-throw line, downing 68 of 95 tosses. She had 25 steals and 13 assists a year ago.
Shields came off the bench in a limited role last year. She scored 21 points and had 22 rebounds.
“Kandace is battling injuries and illness right now and is behind because of it. When she gets healthy, we expect her to come in and rebound for us,” James said.
James said the Red Devils were beaten soundly by a four-year college team in their first preseason scrimmage. He said they came back and worked then played in a jamboree.
“We had success in the jamboree. We looked good. We regrouped again then didn’t play as well in the scrimmages at Wichita,” James said.
“It’s something you go through with a team of this many freshmen. Our kids work hard in practices. The intensity level is always there; sometimes our execution is where I want it.”
Freshmen on the team are 5-4 point guard Ebonie Jones of Houston, Texas, 5-4 guard Johnnea Saulsberry from Pleasanton, 5-3 point guard Maggie Stithem of Hoyt, 5-10 guard Miracle Davis of Tulsa, Okla., 5-8 forward Kayla Morton of Mulvane, 5-7 guard Rachel Kelly of Lawrence, 5-10 post player Endesha Flanigan of Independence, 5-5 guard Brittney Redmond of Topeka, 5-10 forward Jayme Peel, 5-3 point guard Leslie Ware and 5-9 forward Hannah Blackwell.
“Sure, you’d like a little more balance of sophomores to freshmen on the team. We’ll probably have our growing pains and ups and downs in our non-conference schedule,” James said.
Jones comes to ACCC by the way of University of Texas-El Paso. James said Jones has a lot of flash to her game and just needs to do things fundamentally sound.
Saulsberry is s hard worker and has talent. James said she’s worked hard making the adjustments to college basketball. So is Stithem. James said she is fundamentally sound and battling with the guards for playing time.
“Miracle is the most athletically gifted player on the roster. She can play all five positions. She can get to the basket with the ball any time she wants,” James said.
Morton “sneaks up on you” as a player but can “just knock down shots. She’s long and presents match-up problems with opponents,” he said.
“After the jamboree, (NCAA) Division I teams have been calling interested in Miracle and Kayla,” James said.
Flanigan is a big body inside who is playing really well right now as the season approaches. James said she is a strong offensive rebounder who can get the Red Devils putback baskets.
Redmond can flat-out shoot the ball as a spot-up shooter. James said Redmond is the best shooter on the team.
“Jayme Peel’s motor runs all day long. She’s aggressive, almost too aggressive at times, defensively. She goes after loose balls and I’ll tell her when she needs to dial it down. Right now, I want her to go,” James said. “Hannah is almost as active as Jayme. She finds a way to get things done on the court.”
Kelly is red-shirting this season. Ware won’t be eligible to play until the second semester because of an academic issue.
“Nothing bad just a miscommunication thing. Leslie will help us out at point guard, especially defensively,” James said.
James said he likes what he has seen from his team in the preseason. He said the Red Devils can put a group on the court that can play tough, man-to-man defense.
“We also can play a tough zone defense. I’m not much for zone defense but we have a very active zone,” James said.
“We’re ready to get the season started.”
Allen County Community College
2011-2012
Women’s Basketball Schedule
Nov. 1 – Pratt, 6 p.m.
Nov. 4 – Neosho County Panther Classic
ACCC vs. Livin’ the Dream, 2 p.m.
Nov. 5 – Neosho County Panther Classic
ACCC vs. NEO, Noon
Nov. 11 – ACCC Red Devil Classic
ACCC vs. Cottey College, 6 p.m.
Nov. 12 – ACCC Red Devil Classic
ACCC vs. Bethel College, 6 p.m.
Nov. 18 – Crowder Classic, Neosho. Mo.
ACCC vs. North Ark, 5 p.m.
Nov. 19 – Crowder Classic
ACCC vs. Crowder, 3 p.m.
Nov. 22 – Pratt, 6 p.m.
Nov. 30 – Oklahoma Wesleyan, 5 p.m.
Dec. 3 – Hesston, 2 p.m.
Dec. 5 – Southwestern College, 6 p.m.
Dec. 10 – McPherson College, 1 p.m.
Jan. 4 – Kansas City, Kan., 5 p.m.
Jan. 7 – Fort Scott, 2 p.m.
Jan. 11 – Neosho County, 6 p.m.
Jan. 14 – Coffeyville, 6 p.m.
Jan. 18 – Independence, 6 p.m.
Jan. 21 – Labette, 6 p.m.
Jan. 25 – Cowley County, 6 p.m.
Jan. 28 – Highland, 6 p.m.
Feb. 1 – Johnson County, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 – Kansas City, Kan, 6 p.m.
Feb. 8 – Fort Scott, 6 p.m.
Feb. 11 – Neosho County, 6 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Coffeyville, 6 p.m.
Feb. 18 – Independence, 6 p.m.
Feb. 22 – Labette, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 25 – Cowley County, 6 p.m.
Feb. 29 – Highland, 5 p.m.
March 3 – Johnson County, 6 p.m.
March 6 – Region VI playoffs
March 9-12 – Region VI tournament, Wichita
Versatility drives ACCC women in 2011-12
