Comets loaded this season

By Joe Warren

Herald-Tribune

NEVADA, Mo. -- The Cottey Comets are coming off their most successful basketball season in school history. Second place in the NJCAA Region 16 tournament, an NJCAA Division II all-american, and an overall gaining of respect from all their opponents.

So what do the Comets do for an encore? They've got big plans.

One of those plans is to win the region title and advance to the NJCAA national tournament in Arizona this March. While that might have been a pipe dream for the smallest school in the region just two seasons ago, third-year head coach Dave Ketterman has the Comets in a possible position to take that next step.

One reason the Cottey basketball program is so optimistic is the return of all five starters from last season.

Back is all-american forward Lacy Leonard and her 22 points and 11 rebounds per game average that set school records as a freshman.

Also returning is point guard and team spark plug Kayla Orear. Orear was an all-region pick a year ago and despite her relatively diminutive stature -- she is listed at 5-4 on the roster but probably has to stand on her toes to reach that mark -- she has a knack for hitting the big shot and can be an absolute pest on defense.

Shooting guard and part-time ballhandler Kerri Shanks also returns. Shanks is a streaky shooter who can light it up from beyond the arc, but also has the ability to distribute the ball.

Both Orear and Shanks had scoring averages in double figures a season ago.

The other two returners are Maggie Wigness and Ashleigh Houdyshell.

Wigness is a small forward who has a nice mid-range jumper and can give the Comets a matchup advantage by having the ability to put the ball on the floor and take opposing forwards to the basket.

Houdyshell is a power forward/post, who is a stalwart defensively and on the glass, and she isn't afraid to do the dirty work down low. Houdyshell gives the Comets a nice compliment to the scorers already on the floor.

As if those five returning starters weren't enough, the Comets added a stellar recruiting class to go with them.

A pair of Swedish imports look to leave a mark immediately. Post Sara Sellin has very similar game to Leonard. Sellin is the tallest player on the roster at 6-1, and she has a good inside game and soft touch for a big player. Sellin is a freshman who can also step outside and knock down some shots, and should help keep teams from double- and triple-teaming Leonard this season.

Look for Sellin to start opposite Leonard down low this season.

The other player from Sweden is Elin Lindberg. Lindberg is a 6-0 small forward that has the earmarks of a matchup problem. Lindberg is quick, has long arms and is very athletic. What Lindberg needs to work on is her awareness on the floor and finishing at the basket, but if she plays within herself, she could be a fine asset for the Comets.

Look for Lindberg to either start or push for minutes off the bench.

The other two newcomers are forward Liz Wagoner and guard Melissa Hedges.

Wagoner is every bit as talented as Leonard and Sellin, and has similar skill sets as those two. Coming from small Crest Ridge High School in Centerview, the key for Wagoner is going to be adjusting to the higher level of competition. But when she finds her feet, Wagoner will get plenty of time on the court.

With Leonard, Sellin, Wagoner and Houdyshell, the Comets are very talented and very deep in the front court this season.

Hedges is a wing who will likely play shooting guard most of the season. She is strong off the dribble, can hit a jumper, and provide a tall (5-9), physical presence in the back court when the Comets need it.

With Orear, Shanks, Wigness, Lindberg and Hedges, the Comets have five players who can play the guard/small forward positions, which should allow them to turn up the heat defensively and put pressure on teams in transition.

Those nine players don't include returning forward Kelsey Bruce and incoming guard Dominica Sena.

Bruce got better as the season progressed last year, earning minutes toward the end of the year and can be used in a pinch if Ketterman needs to.

Sena is still an unknown. A 5-7 freshman from Santa Rosa, New Mexico, Sena has been playing with the Cottey volleyball team this fall and hasn't been able to practice with the basketball team yet.

Ketterman said the sheer number of talented players on the roster could allow him to do a number of things this season.

"The dynamic of this team could be totally different this year," he said.

The coach will probably look to use his depth this season, whereas last year he was limited to a six- or seven-player rotation.

"We've got about nine kids that look like they're going to contribute (during games)," he said. "The biggest problem I'll have this year is chemistry and making sure everybody feels a part of it."

That's the problem a coach faces when he has more than just a couple players with a high level of talent.

"There may be more players here than they've had combined (in team history)," Ketterman said. "It'll be interesting to see what the other teams have."

Cottey will be one of the favorites in the region with all their returning starters and influx of fresh talent.

The other two teams thought to be their biggest road block are North Central Missouri College and St. Louis Community College-Meramec.

Meramec won the region title last season, beating Cottey in the tournament championship game, while North Central won the region's regular season crown. North Central also returns their top three scorers and added a 6-foot all-state forward to the roster, making them extremely dangerous.

In fact, North Central was almost dominant in the region in 2005-'06, with their only losses coming at Cottey in the regular season, and against Cottey in the tournament semifinals.

The Comets open the season Wednesday when they host St. Mary's junior varsity at the Hinkhouse Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.