Menu
Cottey College Comets young, but talented
Cottey College's basketball team will be extremely young this season, with seven freshmen on its nine-player roster, but that doesn't damper fourth-year coach Dave Ketterman's spirit for the upcoming season.
"I'm optimistic, but with seven freshmen there is the unknown (element)," Ketterman said. "They have to learn to play together."
Cottey opens its season Friday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. against Rhema College in the Hinkhouse Center.
Cottey is coming off a record-setting 14-8 season and second consecutive National Junior College Athletic Association Division II, Region XVI runner-up finish.
However, six players have moved on including two-time first-team All-America selection Lacy Leonard, from Nevada. Leonard, whose career averages of more than 20 points per game and 8. rebounds a contest are Cottey records, is now playing at the University of St. Marys (Kan).
Cottey also lost Academic All-America selections Kayla Orear and Maggie Wigness. Ashleigh Houdyshell and Kerri Shanks are now playing at Stephens College. Sara Sellin returned to her native land of Sweden.
The ability to shoot the 3 and run the floor may offset any size disadvantages the Comets encounter.
"We're not very big, but we've got eight girls who can shoot the 3 and that's a plus," said Ketterman, who plans to use an eight-player rotation.
The Comets, 28-111 the first five years of the program, have improved each year under Ketterman, an educator in the Nevada school system for 13 years. Cottey posted a 7-21 mark his first season, then improved to 12-11, and upped their win total to 14 last season.
Sophomores Elizabeth Wagoner (5-feet-11) and Melissa Hedges (5-9) provide the Comets with experience and will likely be integral parts of the starting lineup.
Hedges was second-team all-region last year despite playing in only about half of the Comets' games due to a torn meniscus. A Springfield Glendale High School graduate, Hedges averaged about 11 points per game.
"She's a good shooter and good 3-point shooter," Ketterman said. "She's a big, strong guard."
Wagoner played in one of the top Class 2A programs in the state at Crestridge. She should play an integral role in rebounding.
"Those two kids bring us some experience and some leadership," Ketterman said.
Cottey will miss the services of sophomore Dominica Sena, who injured her knee in the preseason and will miss the entire season.
The Comets have a quintet of freshmen who could start at some point during the season.
Ketterman landed three players from Hartville High School, last season's Class 2A state champion.
Brittany Smith, a 5-9 guard/forward, was the leading scorer at (Camdenton High School) before transferring to Hartville her senior season.
"She's a good shooter and 3-pointer shooter," Ketterman said.
A 5-9 forward Aleasha Lancaster, who along with Smith played in the prestigious Missouri Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game, should provide offensive firepower.
"She's an excellent shooter. She had a game-high 29 points in a (big) game last season for Hartville," Ketterman said.
Shanda Moon, a 5-7 guard, rounds out the Hartville trio.
"She had a shoulder injury at the beginning of the year last year and really became their sixth man. She will probably play that same role for us," Ketterman said. "She's a pretty good ball-handler and a pretty good 3-point shooter. She's a very fierce competitor for her size."
The best prospect Cottey has could be Jessica Roberts, a 5-11 forward from Tulsa (Okla.) Union High. Roberts was recruited by three schools in Oklahoma that offered full scholarships. Roberts had a foot injury the beginning of her senior year that set her back.
"This kid can post it inside and shoot it deep outside," Ketterman said.
Molly Frick, a 5-11 forward from Walker, Minn., was a 1,000-point scorer in high school.
"She's an excellent passer and in our league gives us a little bit of size," Ketterman said.
Freshman Meleah Painter, who played for former Missouri State Lady Bear Melody Stewart at Morrisville High School, can help in several areas.
"She's a good ballhandler, good shooter and really knows how to play," Ketterman noted.
The ninth player will be Katlyn Valerio, who joined the team after Sena was injured. A 5-4 guard, Valerio is from Mullan, Idaho.
"This group of freshmen is as talented of group as I've had," Ketterman said. "Hopefully, if we can stretch the defense, we can use our skills to be competitive."
The freshmen will have several adjustments to make at the collegiate level to be successful.
"Our kids will have to adjust quickly to the differences from high school to college very quickly. It's more physical and every time down the court they are going to have to work to get open," said Ketterman, who noted his team will need to adjust to the 30-second shot clock.
Ketterman looks for a very competitive region.
"Penn Valley is always in the top four and they've got a new coach this year. If there is a front-runner, it might be Meramec. They won the region two years ago," Ketterman said. "Being two-year schools, nobody knows what everybody else has."