Today's post is written by Assistant Coach Marcus Moeller:
At the time I am writing this post, the MIAA website tells me that we are EXACTLY 10 days, 18 hours, 32 minutes and 21 seconds from the tip off of the 2011 MIAA Basketball Championships. In the words of NY Jets Inside Linebacker Bart Scott, we "CAN'T WAIT!!" (click here to see what I mean). With 1 week remaining in the regular season, so many emotions, feelings, and thoughts come to mind. The heated conference race, the crucial regional polls, and a chance to finish with a GREAT home record are all in the forefront of our minds. The other thing that naturally comes with the end of a season is watching the seniors play their final games at home.
This week marks the last 2 games that Afton Baldwin, Lindsey Rujawitz, LaTice Jones and Jasmine Lovejoy will ever play in the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center on our campus. All 4 of these young ladies transferred in from different junior colleges (Crowder CC, Lewis and Clark CC, State Fair CC, and Northeast (Neb) College respectively). One of the drawbacks to recruiting junior college transfers is that you only get to coach them for 2 years. Often, those 2 years go by extremely fast. It can be difficult to get 2 year players to really buy into the program and the system. We are very fortunate this group of seniors bought in from the very beginning by embracing the work ethic and coachability we demand from our players.
We consider the opportunity to play at Missouri Southern and represent this institution, athletic department, and basketball program a huge honor. We are very selective of the young ladies we invite into our family. Afton, Lindsey, LaTice, and Jasmine have been GREAT representatives of our program both on and off the court. I am going to put off listing all of their accomplishments because, fortunately for us, their careers aren't quite over yet!!
This is a HUGE week for our program. We currently sit in a tie for 3rd place in the MIAA and are looking forward to finishing the year at home with games on Wednesday (Univ of Nebraska Omaha) and Saturday (Northwest Missouri State Univ). Saturday is Senior Day (tip off at 1:00pm) and we would love for you to come out and show your support to our very special group of seniors. There is no better way for you to say "thank you", than by coming and cheering us on as we play our last regular season game of the year!!
Until next time...It's a GREAT day to be a LION!!
Marcus Moeller
Assistant Coach
