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Early season an uphill battle for Lady Busters
Published 12/18/2009 in Sports
By MIKE KESSINGER
mkessinger@gctelegram.com
As she works to build her program, first-year Garden City Community College women's basketball coach Alaura Sharp has gone through the ups and downs of the process. For the most part, the challenge through the first month has been all uphill.
But taking over a program that hasn't had a winning season since 2003 Sharp certainly has mixed feelings about it.
"Before you start your season you look over your schedule and you kind of predict what your record would be at the end of the semester," Sharp said. "Honestly, I never thought we'd be 5-8, I thought we'd be better than 5-8. Obviously we've played a tough schedule, and of course, I thought we'd beat New Mexico (Junior College) twice and I thought we'd beat Air Force Prep. But without directly looking at the record I feel good about the first semester. Outside of last weekend, I really thought we were headed in the right direction as far as growing and maturing."
Before the trip to Scottsbluff, Neb., a week ago for the Western Nebraska tournament, the Lady Broncbusters had shown substantial improvement. On Dec. 5, GCCC opened Jayhawk Conference play at Butler, and walked away with a 73-50 win. The Lady Grizzlies were held to 24.6 percent shooting from the floor, and GCCC shot 49.2 percent with all but one of the nine players scoring.
The week before GCCC nearly upended No. 10 Western Nebraska in the Thanksgiving Classic before succumbing to a three-point loss. The next day, the Busters avenged their opening game loss to New Mexico Junior College by picking up a 78-69 win over the Thunderbirds.
A home game against Hutchinson was to have followed against Butler, but the icy road conditions along with strong wind had the Blue Dragons asking GCCC if the games could be rescheduled for January. The Busters' athletic department obliged to the date change, which has been moved to Jan. 18, and the women's team had to change its immediate focus to the Western Nebraska trip. The Busters didn't respond well, losing to Western Nebraska by 42, then to Air Force Prep 70-45. Against Air Force Prep, GCCC trailed by one with nine minutes left, and gave up a 16-0 run to end the game.
"I really didn't think we competed like we should," Sharp said of last weekend. "But overall, I think we were ready for Christmas break, and girls were getting a little homesick, and maybe a little tired of each other. To go on a road trip that far at the end of the (semester) probably isn't the smartest thing on my part. I think they'll come back and be excited to be back and remember how we played in the Thanksgiving tournament."
Through the first 13 games, GCCC has been led by 6-foot-4 Garden City freshman post Marisela Rodriguez who has averaged 13 points and nine rebounds. She missed the first four games of the season after serving a suspension. Sophomores Cheree Freeman and LaMesia Abbott, who both started the season slow, came around late in the semester and both are averaging in double-figures. Freeman has averaged 11.9 points and Abbott adds 10.8 a game.
The players return on Dec. 31, then start practice again on New Year's Day. GCCC next action will be in the Jayhawk Shootout in Coffeyville on Jan. 8 and 9 against Eastern Division foes Fort Scott and Kansas City, Kansas.
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