Cottey set to resume basketball season

By Jason Peake

Daily Mail Sports Editor

NEVADA -- A long break is finally over for the Cottey College basketball team.

After more than a month since its last game, the Comets are now set to resume the season.

Cottey hosts the Central Methodist JV team on Friday at 6 p.m.

The Comets last played on Nov. 30, 2011.

"When we break, we break," Cottey Coach Dave Ketterman joked. "It's been a while."

Cottey enters the 2012 portion of the schedule with a 4-3 record.

Ketterman's players returned to campus at the start of the week and the Comets have been practicing twice a day.

"They came back in reasonably good shape," Ketterman said. "I don't think they're in game shape yet, though. But the teams we'll play in the next 10 days won't be, either. I think we're in good shape overall, though. The girls that are back are healthy for the most part and took care of their academics before the break."

One player who is not yet ready to take the court is second-year point guard Jordan Davidson.

One of the team's top performers, Davidson missed the last game of 2011 with a staph infection in her knee.

Coach Ketterman said Davidson has rehabbed the knee, but is not yet ready to play.

"She's way behind on conditioning," Ketterman said. "She might not be available for a while. It could be a week or 10 days at least. She's healthy, but she's missed a month."

Without Davidson handling the point guard duties, Ketterman said he'll need Chelsey Rowland, Reanna Henderson and Kylie Eldredge to step up.

Davidson is averaging 19 points per game. Second-year forward Santana Cruz is scoring 16.5 points per game thus far. Cruz, a returning all-region performer, scored 27 in the last game of 2011.

Second half keys

As the Comets begin the second half of the season, taking care of the basketball and being more aggressive in the paint are two big keys to success.

When Davidson missed the final game of the first half, the Comets struggled with turnovers. Ketterman added several of his players need to be more aggressive offensively.

"We have a number of kids that get the ball in good scoring position in the paint and then kick it back out," Ketterman said. "We need to look to score inside."

Added Ketterman: "Taking care of the basketball and being more assertive when we get the ball inside are the two main things we're working on. If we can do that, the other things will take care of themselves."

Two leave program

Tasha Reilley and Jessica Holland have left the program, Ketterman said.

"There's always attrition at this level," Ketterman said. "They decided they wanted to try something else. That's how it goes. We wish them the best."

Reilley was a 6-2 post player from Utah and Holland was a 5-9 guard/forward from Everton.

This 'N That

The Cottey vs. Fort Scott CC game has not yet been rescheduled. It was originally scheduled for Dec. 9, but was postponed. Cottey had a few injuries and finals to prepare for.

After Friday's home date, the Comets hit the road for four-straight.

Cottey plays at Crowder in Neosho on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

The team goes to St. Louis on Jan. 14, to North Central on Jan. 18, and then to Hesston, Kan. on Jan. 21. The Comets host the Ottawa JV team on Tuesday, Jan. 24.