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Leonard's star shines brightly
By Joe Warren
Herald-Tribune
NEVADA -- A fabulous freshman season for Lacy Leonard at Cottey College finally came to an end last weekend when the 5-11 forward added another feather to her cap by playing in a pair of NJCAA all-star games in Lubbock, Texas.
Not only did Leonard play, she led all players in scoring during the first of two games, as her squad overcame a 10-point deficit in the second half to win 85-78.
Leonard scored 10 of her 16 points in the second half on July 7, playing a combination of power forward and small forward.
"I was so nervous, I don't know how it happened," Leonard said after returning home. "I had a lot of fun. It was just amazing."
There was a second game July 8, but it involved a running clock so players could make their flights home and according to Cottey head coach Dave Ketterman, it lacked the pizazz the first game displayed.
"I think the girls didn't get into that one quite as much as the other," Ketterman said.
Leonard played on the Blue team, alongside players from other junior colleges all over the nation. The game featured all-americans from Division I, Division II and Division III schools.
Her teammates included Texas Tech-bound Dominic Seals, a 6-1 center from South Plains College in Texas. Seals teamed with Leonard by scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 boards in the first game.
Leonard also played on the same team as Ladesha Stoudemire, the little sister of NBA superstar Amare Stoudemire.
"She played with some pretty good people," Ketterman said.
Leonard also grabbed four rebounds in the first contest, playing only 18 minutes total.
Leonard had six points and four rebounds in 21 minutes during the second game.
Coming from the small Division II Comets, Leonard went to Lubbock not knowing what to expect.
"I was very intimidated," Leonard said. "I knew there were a lot of girls that were tall."
Including Lacy, there were six players on Leonard's team alone who were 5-10 or taller. The Red team also had six.
Leonard said the first time she got into the game that she didn't know what to expect.
"It took me a while to warm up," she said. "The second time I got in the game I just started to play."
Ketterman said Leonard showed she could play with the best junior college players in the country.
"She went right in and played her natural position," he said. "It was fun to watch."
It was the inaugural year for the all-star games, played in the Rip Griffin Center at Lubbock Christian University.
The games were played in front of eight coaches from four-year schools, including coaches from Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.
"I'm hoping this will help broaden my exposure," Leonard said.
"I think it was a good experience for her, and good exposure for her," Ketterman said.
Leonard was interviewed after the first game by the newspaper in Lubbock, and she had some quotes posted online at www.njcaa.org.
The teams arrived in Lubbock on Wednesday, July 5, with practices that day and on the next. The games were played Friday and Saturday, with players leaving for home Saturday evening.
Leonard said the team didn't run a set offense, but preached team work and ran a lot of screens and pick-and-rolls.
"We didn't have very many people try to steal the show," she said.