Opening Week

Today's post was written by Assistant Coach Marcus Moeller:

The NCAA Division II season has been officially underway for 7 days. The week had ups and downs, but we learned a lot and were able to end on a high note. Last Sunday we opened our season on the road in Tahlequah, OK. We faced a veteran NSU RiverHawks team and went home on the losing end of a hard fought game.

You can learn a lot about the maturity of a basketball team by watching how they respond to a loss. Needless to say, the following couple days were important for our team. After taking Monday off, we got back at it with an intense practice on Tuesday. We really stressed the little things. It was very important that we go back to focusing on simple things like catching and passing the basketball, making layups, making free throws, valuing the basketball…Tuesday through Thursday we worked very hard to correct some of the things that really plagued us vs. NSU. While it is safe to say that it wasn’t the best 3 days of practices we’ve ever had, it was obvious that we were making strides in the right direction. Winning on the road takes mental toughness and we grew in that area during these practices.

On Thursday evening, after practice, it was off to Emporia, Kansas to play in the ESU Tip-Off Classic. We had 2 quality opponents ahead of us (Evangel University--#21 in NIAA Division 1 poll-- and Eastern New Mexico University) and we knew we must play inspired, with lots of energy and emotion in order to get the results we wanted. Friday night we faced Evangel. Using our defense to create for our offense, we came away with a 79-43 win. Our defensive effort and intensity was finally starting to get closer to the “Southern Way” of playing defense.

I stated earlier that “You can learn a lot about the maturity of a basketball team by watching how they respond to a loss.” Well, it might be true that you can learn MORE about the maturity of a basketball team by watching how they respond to a win. Saturday was another great opportunity for our basketball team to prove their maturity. The challenge before us was a fast and athletic Eastern New Mexico team. The first half was a see-saw affair that saw the Zias hit a buzzer beating 3, sending us to the locker room with only a 4 point lead. However, fueled by a great start to the second half, we were able to pull away and win the contest 76-58. We were headed home 2-1 on the season! After the contest we learned that Michelle Hedgecock (Averaged 11.5 pts and 8.5 rbs) and Jasmine Lovejoy (Averaged 15.5 pts) had been named to the all-tournament team. Congrats ladies!

This weekend was GREAT for our team. Now we have 4 days to prepare for the Pizza Hut/Fairfield Inn Classic held in our very own Leggett and Platt Athletic Center. Can’t wait to come back and play in front of our AWESOME fans!

Until next time…It’s a GREAT day to be a LION!!

Marcus Moeller
Assistant Coach

The Birthplace of Basketball...and ME!!

Today's post is written by Jr. guard Jasmine Lovejoy:

Hello everyone, my name is Jasmine Lovejoy and I am a junior guard from Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska. I am originally from Springfield, Massachusetts. I am very proud to be from Springfield because of the major role that basketball has played in its history. One interesting thing that a lot of people may not know is that basketball was founded and invented there, and is also where the basketball Hall of Fame is.

Growing up it was very important for me to play a sport. Being from that area, I chose the sport that everyone else chooses…basketball. When I was younger, I watched a lot of old basketball games that had players who were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Watching current and future Hall of Famers really made me take basketball more seriously. It really made me strive to become a better player. As I got older, I began to understand how important it is to be from the area called “the birth place of basketball.” I felt very fortunate that the game that I have grown to love has the same birthplace as me!!

After all the positives, there were actually a few negatives to growing up in Springfield. The most glaring negative was the expectation and standard placed on me to be a GREAT basketball player. The other negative in that area was the number of all girls teams (or lack thereof). There were tons and tons of boy’s teams growing up, but very few all girls teams.

I am very thankful to have grown up in Springfield. It really causes me to appreciate the game of basketball and its historical significance.

I am so excited for our season to get started. I hope to see everyone out in the stands!

Until next time…It’s a GREAT day to be a LION!!

Jasmine Lovejoy
Jr. Shooting Guard

Close to home

Today's post is written by Jr. Shooting Guard Afton Baldwin:

My name is Afton Baldwin and I am a junior here at Missouri Southern. I am an elementary education major from Nevada, Missouri. I have lived in Nevada my whole life and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. It's the perfect place for me. I have two wonderful parents, Mark and Penny Baldwin and three siblings, Bridget (22), Austin (18), and Carolyne (10). We have seven pets (two dogs and five cats). I am very close to my family and enjoy going home and seeing them.

I went to Nevada High School where I played basketball for Brent Bartlett. He is a great coach. He taught me how to play the game of basketball and I really enjoyed playing for him.Out of high school I chose to continue my playing career at Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri. I chose to go there mainly because it was only an hour and 15 minutes from home.

Another reason I chose Crowder was because my sister, Bridget, went to school there for two years on a softball scholarship and she really enjoyed it. I also really liked being on a campus small enough to walk everywhere. Finally, I really enjoyed the people at Crowder. Playing for Coach Tina Robbins was a great experience and one I am very thankful for.

As my sophomore year at Crowder got into full swing I realized that I was serious enough about basketball that I wanted to continue playing at the next level. My desire to stay close to home had not changed and I was looking for a great program that was within a couple hours of home. I chose to come to Missouri Southern just a few weeks before school started and I'm so glad that I did!! I used to come to the basketball camps here at Southern when I was in high school (from my freshman-senior year). As a result, I've been familiar with the basketball program here at Southern for quite awhile.

Coming to Southern is one of the best decisions I have ever made. This is definitely the hardest I've ever worked on the basketball floor. Our practices are tough, but I enjoy seeing the daily improvement. Our coaches really push us toward excellence everyday we step onto the court. I feel very lucky to be a part of this team and I'm excited to see how well we do this year!

Until next time…It’s a GREAT day to be a LION!!

Afton Baldwin
Jr. Shooting Guard
Nevada, MO

"Too Good To Be True"

Today's post is written by Head Coach Maryann Mitts

Yesterday was the annual MIAA Media Day in Kansas City. In typical fashion, every coach had a “poker” face about their teams’ potential and those coaches that did share their thoughts…… well, they REALLY like their squad! So, bottom line-everyone thinks their team is pretty darn good! It’s the only time of the year you’ll choke with all the optimism in the room. I actually find it very comical to be honest.

Well, the real proof will happen in a few short weeks. In three weeks, the rubber will meet the road and results only (not talk) will determine the success of MIAA teams. Yesterday we were picked 5th by the Media and 6th by the Coaches. No offense to Jim Henry at the Joplin Globe, but I’ve never put much credence in what the media says, but I’ll have to agree with them on this one! (See? I too lean to the optimistic side!) The Coaches usually look at the number of graduating players and since we lost 6 seniors, four of which were starters, last season, sixth is about as high as they would consider us. I am excited about this season and actually enjoy the role of “underdog” or spoiler. I mean, in my eight years at Southern we have beaten 10 nationally ranked teams. It’s FUN to go up against the Big Dogs.

Meet the Lions Night is Southern’s own Midnight Madness…. Except that it’s two weeks into practice and at 5:30 pm . : ) Our Meet the Lions Night was this past Monday night and I was pleasantly surprised. Our scoring (which is all fans want to see) was productive and it gave our players a chance to play in front of our wonderful fans in Leggett and Platt. Remember though, we take pride in our Defense around here, so, obviously we have room for improvement.

This group is the best group of ladies I have had the pleasure of coaching. I’ve always questioned coaches (our Men’s Coach, Robert Corn being one of them) when they would say, “The best part of my day is the two hours I am up on the floor with my players.” WHAT? You mean, the time when you are begging and pleading 18-22 year olds to play hard, encouraging them to play defense, and praying that they are listening to what you are teaching? And THEN waiting for the results of that teaching? Well, now I have felt it! At 1:00 pm every day I am anxious and ready for 2:00 pm. I am excited to see our team, their smiles, intensity, and eagerness to learn.

So, that’s what’s leading me to the title of today’s blog. “Too Good To Be True”. At the MIAA Media Day, Gene Steinmeyer, Head Coach at Northwest Missouri and I were visiting. It seems that we are the only two who have succumb ourselves to this blog thing. And to be honest, our staff really enjoys reading Gene’s blogs. His writing is very similar to his storytelling: long, creative, and hysterical! Anyways, he was telling me that his assistant, Lori Hopkins (great person and great coach) was laughing at our blogs. After asking why, he paused and said, “Well, I mean, they just sound too good to be true!” I guess the misconceptions that some people have about programs get eliminated when they actually hear the truth from the ‘horse’s mouths’. Our players write their own blogs from their hearts. We might give them a ‘topic’ (like an English assignment), but it’s all them after that. All the positives, all the understanding, the happiness, and all the excitement can occur at the same time discipline, intensity, and hard work encompass an environment.

Maybe the Northwest Missouri Coaching Staff is RIGHT….. Maybe the 2009-10 Lions ARE just “Too Good To Be True!”

Until next time...It's a GREAT day to be a LION!

Maryann Mitts
Head Coach

Meet the Lions...TWICE!!

Today's post is written by Jr. Center LaTice Jones:

I thought I would take the opportunity to tell you a little bit about each player on our team. On Monday night, October 26th at 5:30, Meet The Lions will take place at the Leggett and Platt athletic center. I thought I would give you a preview of what you will see when you come out on Monday. So, that being said…

Jasmine is goofy and fun to be around on and off the court. She is a strong, athletic player with a positive attitude. When she talks positively on the court, it is contagious to other players on our team. She is a good friend not only to me, but to all of her teammates.

Tercya is a great all around player. A strong, vocal leader, she has the ability to score from anywhere on the court. She not only tells someone what to do, she also shows them.

Randi is one teammate that I really respect. She is one of the best leaders that we have. She answers a lot of questions. She is very helpful not only to me, but to our entire team. She is the epitome of what it means to be a STUDENT-ATHLETE.

Afton is another great outside shooter. You don’t hear Afton much, as she is quiet too. She has a great approach read she uses to get to the bucket. She likes to ask a lot of questions that will help to better her game. She is another one that is fun to be around off the court (are you noticing a trend?). Our team really enjoys each other and has a ton of fun.

Danielle is another great teammate. On the court, she is a good defender and she knows how to attack the bucket. She is very polite and if she has to say something, it will always come out politely. The 2 of us have a lot in common and we can talk about anything.

Michelle is a good post player. She knows a lot about the program and she helps me whenever I need it on the floor. She is very intense when she plays. If a player asks her for anything or any kind of help, she won’t hesitate to do it.

Lindsey is a strong post player. She plays with a lot of heart and works very hard daily. She is just coming off an injury and her game seems to be getting stronger every day. She is very consistent in her performance.

Jolea is my roommate. She is really goofy and full of life. She is our other senior leader. She helps us with the plays and gives us newcomers good advice. She is also one of our best outside shooters

Myriah is an aggressive defender who is very quick. She is really quick to the basket. She is always excited to play the game of basketball and that’s always a contagious characteristic for a team. She is a person who likes to fun.

Erin is a 6-2 forward. Overall, she is a very supportive person with a quiet demeanor. She is also another good outside shooter, and at the same time she has some nice post moves. She is an overall great and loving person. Her positive attitude is GREAT for our team.

Kelby is a musical breath of fresh air. She is always dancing, singing, or playing her guitar. On the court she works hard and she has a nice jump shot. She is very energetic, just like the rest of my teammates. You should see her backing up Randi at the point.

Scruggs and I have a lot in common. Unfortunately, you will not see her this year due to a knee injury. She is energetic on and off the floor and the team feeds off her energy. She is funny and we often joke around about anything. She often entertains the team with her free-style rapping and story-telling.

Brittany is a little bit harder for me, since she is involved in volleyball. I have not had the opportunity to spend much time with her. She seems very athletic on the volleyball court. I look forward to her joining our team after the volleyball season.

I hope you enjoyed this look into our team from my point of view. Please come out see us play. We look forward to seeing you there!

Until next time…It’s a GREAT day to be a LION!!

LaTice Jones
Jr. Center

Practice is here!!

Today's post is written by Jr. Forward Lindsey Rujawiitz

This is my first year at Missouri Southern and it has been AWESOME. This is the third program I have played in since graduating high school and I am so thankful I have settled in here at Southern. I really believe we are on our way to having a very successful season.

The preseason has wrapped up and we have had a couple real practices! It is soooo nice to finally be able to work with the whole team on the floor at the same time. Our practices have been very intense. The intensity has been GREAT for our team. The coaches show so much passion for the game that they are able to make practice exciting! One thing I have noticed that is different than other places I have played is that it is okay to make a mistake. Yeah I said it...it really is okay to make a mistake as long as you make the mistake going as hard and fast as you can. We are really focusing on our tempo (including our speed and quickness). Our coaches do a really good job of teaching the game. There is a certain way that Missouri Southern has played for the past 8 years (Coach Mitts' tenure here) and the coaches are just teaching us how to play that way.

There are so many good things coming from practice already that I really think we are going to have a GREAT year. As we continue to "buy in", it will become less and less obvious that we have 10 new programs represented on our team. We will become 1 unit. We will become another one of the GREAT Missouri Southern teams. Our coaches do a good job of stressing that as our goal.

For it just being the first week of practice, it has been a great one. GREAT things are just around the corner. Be sure to come out and see our team at Meet the Lions night! We look forward to seeing you there!

Until next time...it's a GREAT day to be a LION!!

Lindsey Rujawitz
Junior Forward

"Well Coach, are we ready?"

Today's post is written by Assistant Coach Marcus Moeller:

With October 15th arriving on Thursday, the question that everyone asks is, “Well Coach, are we ready?” Assuming that “we” encompasses the 14 athletes on our roster, myself, Coach Jones, Coach Hubbard, and Coach Mitts…I will address that question.

The theme of the preseason is “Break it down so we can build it up.” There are 2 breakdowns happening simultaneously throughout the preseason. We have 10 new girls, from 10 different programs on our roster. Each and every one of these athletes has been taught a completely different philosophy on the game of basketball. We must break it down. We MUST teach these athletes our system. We must break it down. The preseason gives us the opportunity to break down our system in to its finest parts. As we teach and break down our system we are in turn breaking down the systems of our 10 newcomers. We MUST break it down, so we can build it up.

The coaching staff is ready! There is nothing more exciting for our staff than to finally have the opportunity to work with all 14 players at once, on the same floor, and working to build on the floor cohesiveness. Our team has done a GREAT job of building an off the court bond, now we must actively pursue an on the floor cohesiveness that never waivers.

Our 14 players our ready! There are 2 different ways to look at this phrase. A better way to put it would be, “our team is ready for preseason to be over!” :) Our team is definitely ready for practice to be here. The beginning of practice means that 95% of everything we do involves a basketball. There is no doubt that our players are ready for the conditioning portion with Coach J of the preseason to be over :) The second way to look at it, “Is the team ready to perform at the level necessary to have GREAT practices?” One thing that I have always found interesting is when I correct a player in the midst of a drill and their answer is, “I know coach.” My natural response is usually “then why didn’t you do it correctly?” It has often been said that “knowledge without action is meaningless.” Another way to put it is “the proof of understanding is in the application”. October 15th is start of the application. Our team must now begin to apply everything they have been taught!

I honestly believe that the 2009-2010 Lions are ready to begin practice. We are excited about the work that we put in during the preseason and we believe that we have prepared ourselves to have a GREAT year.

Until next time…it’s a GREAT day to be a LION!!

Marcus Moeller
Assistant Coach