SCOOBA — When recruiting players to a two-year program, the margin for error is small for coaches.
The Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges limits basketball to three out-of-state players each school year. Thus, when Sharon Thompson saw all three of her out-of-state players unable to perform due to health issues last season, it put a serious dampen on the Lady Lions’ season.
With a healthy roster and six returnees, optimism is high that EMCC can return to the upper echelon of the MACJC’s North Division.
Already off to a 2-0 start, EMCC is back in action Thursday night at Meridian Community College. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Graham Gymnasium in Meridian.
“We are really excited about this season,” EMCC ninth-year coach Sharon Thompson said. “When you are coaching a two-year program, the bad thing is that players leave your system so quickly. In senior college, you really don’t become an elite player until your junior year. So the main thing we are excited about is everybody is healthy and most of the players are already familiar with the system. That should help us get off to a much better start this season.”
EMCC finished last season with a 7-16 record. However, the Lady Lions did win four of their final seven games. EMCC has won a pair of division titles under Thompson and also won the Region XXIII championship and played in the National Junior College Athletic Association championship tournament in 2009.
“Personally, I am excited about this year because we have a chance to be a pretty good team,” said EMCC sophomore guard Wilma Davis, a former West Point High School standpoint. “The chemistry is on this team is really good. It seems like we get along so well and we understand each other so well. I think the chemistry is going to translate over to the court and make us a better team.”
Thompson is excited about a talented trio of out-of-state performers — high school teammates Lashyra Butler and LeRia Jenrette of Oldsmar Christian School in Florida and Dana Gettis of Illinois.
“We feel like we have really brought in some players who will fit our system,” Thompson said. “If you bring in players who fit your system then you have to do less teaching. Really, we need players who can step up and contribute right away. You have to get production from your out-of-state players, since they are limited.
“We have six returnees who saw a lot of playing time last year. You would like to have a few more, but that is a good number. We did player well in the second half of the season, so you hope this year’s sophomores learned from that experience and they can step up and help lead the new team.”
Thompson is also expecting an immediate impact from 6-foot-1 forward Kyra Gulledge. A former standout at H.W. Byers High School, Gulledge is transferring back in-state after red-shirting last season at Furman University.
“She has a huge wingspan,” Thompson said. “If she remains healthy all year, I think she will be the best big in the entire state.”
Under Thompson, EMCC has traditionally played stellar defense. Again last season, the Lady Lions only allowed 59 points per contest. However, the team’s shortcomings involved lack of depth and lack of offensive punch.
Former Wayne County High School standout Takera Mitchell was the lone player who averaged double figures. Mitchell averaged 10.6 points while earning first-team all-state honors. The team averaged 52 points per game.
“This team is going to be a lot different this year,” Mitchell said. “We have more scoring options. Last year, I think we felt pressure if we were having an off-night. This year will be totally different because we have more players who can step up and carry the load.”
Thompson felt like the key to her squad’s success this season would be to get off a good start. Each year, EMCC has played a rigorous non-conference schedule. In a preseason scrimmage, EMCC fared well against some nationally-ranked foes. In season-opening play last weekend, EMCC won twice at the Baton Rouge Community College Lady Bear Classic.
“Last season, we lost some games and lost some confidence early,” Davis said. “I think this team has more togetherness. I think we will be able to do a better job of handling difficult situations.”
Thompson and new assistant coach Michael Morgan hope the adversity comes less often this season.
“We are super excited about the year ahead,” Thompson said. “I am a pretty intense coach. If we stay healthy, we have a chance to get this thing going in the right direction again and have a great year.”
Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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