STARKVILLE — Meridian Community College women”s basketball coach Hilary Allen describes his team”s fast-paced playing tempo as “chaotic.”
He feels he added two ideal fits for that system Thursday when Starkville High School seniors Courtney Moore and Chelsey Johnson-Weaver signed with MCC. They will join former Starkville High teammates Kierra Jones and Tay Odneal as Lady Eagle signees in the past three classes.
Moore and Johnson-Weaver are the second and third members of a class Allen hopes will reach eight to 10 by the end of the signing period.
“What I have found from (Starkville coach) Kristie Williams” players is all of her players have the basic fundamentals of the game,” Allen said. “I have to have those fundamentals because we play fast-paced. If we play fundamentally sound at that fast-paced tempo, we”ll be successful.”
Moore averaged a team-best 15.5 points per game and 9.5 rebounds last season and was the primary front-court option. Her impact on the team was so significant opposing coaches would always ask if “number 20 was on the floor,” Williams said.
“Courtney came in as a junior and was able to make an immediate impact,” Williams said. “The chemistry developed as soon as she arrived.”
Moore said she likely faces a position switch when she gets to MCC in the summer. Moore played forward and center for Starkville, but at 5-foot-8 she”ll be an undersized post player at the next level.
Her likely destination, especially in Meridian”s break-neck tempo, is on the wing as a small forward. That switch will require guarding quicker players and more ballhandling responsibility.
“I went and played pickup with them and they are pretty fast paced,” Moore said. “When I was there, I was like, ”Man, I”m out of shape.” But I think I can do it and make the adjustment to playing the three.”
Johnson-Weaver”s path to MCC differed greatly from that of Moore, who was a starter the minute she stepped on campus her junior year.
Johnson-Weaver was a go-to player in junior high but was relegated to the bench for her first two varsity seasons.
Like most players entering their senior season, Johnson-Weaver said she felt the clock ticking on her high school career. A renewed work ethic followed the completion of the 2009-10 season, and Johnson-Weaver”s play improved. She won the team”s Sixth Woman Award after averaging seven points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
“You realize it”s stuff you got to do to get better,” Johnson-Weaver said. “It”s crazy, being that our season wasn”t so good, to have a college interested in me is great. It”s exciting.”
Last season, Starkville High”s Kala Williams (East Mississippi C.C.) and Shay Bonner (Itawamba C.C.) signed college scholarships.
Thursday marked the third straight year the Lady Yellow Jackets have had two more players sign college scholarships.
“It goes to show that regardless of how rocky our season was and though we didn”t accomplish any of the goals, it”s good to see we have players who are able to shine and achieve their goals,” Williams said.
MCC”s only loss is at point guard, Allen said. The Lady Eagles went 27-6 and won regular-season and conference tournament titles last season.
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