My FIRST Final Four!!

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

Simply put, the Final Four is the pinnacle of college basketball. All year long teams push, pull, sweat, bleed, drive and sacrifice everything in order to make it to the "holy grail" of the college game. On Selection Sunday, the field of 64 teams (split up into 4, 16 team regions) is announced, and shortly thereafter, tournament play begins. Once the dust settles on each of the 4 regions, only 4 teams remain. The 4 teams that have survived will then convene on a predetermined city and site (this year, San Antonio and the Alamodome), and battle it out for the right to be called "National Champs."

The idea of any "Final Four" is something I have always loved. You could throw 8 people in a bracketed tournament of checkers, and as soon as it was down to 4...you'd have my undivided attention. I would be the best marketer you had, screaming to anyone within ear shot that "the final four is here!!" This passion obviously comes from my love of the NCAA tournament and the final weekend dubbed, the "Final Four." I watched the Final Four from my living room for as long as I can remember. I have read as many books as I can get my hands on about the amazing weekend. But, this past weekend, the Final Four, and all that the phase conjures up in my head, was radically changed.

This past weekend I had the amazing pleasure of attending the Women's Final Four in San Antonio, TX due mostly to the fact that the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has its National Convention surrounding the Final Four. As a member of the WBCA, I was not only going to get to see the city and go to the games, but that I was going to get to hear some great speakers and view some awesome on court demonstrations. Naturally, I was very excited about the opportunity to attend the convention and watch the games, and the 10 hour drive south gave me plenty of time to think about what was in store.

I have not done much traveling in my lifetime, but San Antonio is one more enjoyable places I have ever been. Staying on The Riverwalk was AMAZING. First off, we didn't have to use a car for anything. Everything (food, shopping, convention center, Alamodome, etc) was all so close to our hotel, that walking was the only option! Second, the food was so good. You can get everything from a gourmet Italian meal, to a cookie dough ice cream cup at Ben and Jerry's. The energy on The Riverwalk (at least surrounding the Final Four) was electric. One memory that sticks out is eating on The Riverwalk and hearing a faint noise that seemed to be growing louder and louder. Upon further inspection, we realized that the pep band of each team was riding on The Riverwalk (in Gondolas) playing their team's fight song! It was quite a sight to behold.

The Final Four is truly an "event". I'm not sure if the fans feel that way, but being a coach and being involved in the WBCA convention, I came away feeling that way. That being said, I had never been to a Final Four game before, and I was pumped to watch the games on Sunday evening. First up was Oklahoma vs Stanford. 2 of the truly great coaches in the women's games were about to square off. How would Oklahoma matchup with the enormous front line of Stanford? How would Stanford's guards handle the speed and quickness of Oklahoma's bask court? Stanford took control early and held off a furious charge from Boom Sooner. The Stanford Cardinal punched its ticket for Tuesday night's championship game. The second game matched Baylor and UCONN. I was really interested to see Brittney Griner in person and to see how she would affect the UCONN offense. In the end, Maya Moore and Tina Charles were too much as UCONN solidified their spot in another National Championship game.

Walking back to the hotel after the games I started to really take in all that had gone on during the weekend. Coaching is something that has opened so many doors for me. I am so grateful to Coach Mitts for taking me down to San Antonio to experience something brand new. The NCAA puts on an unbelievable event. I'll never forget my first Final Four.

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

Marcus Moeller
Assistant Coach

Once a Lion...ALWAYS a Lion!!

Today's post is written by senior Randi Henderson:

Instead of using my last blog to tell you how sad I am that my basketball career is over, I am going to recognize the joys I had when wearing the Green and Gold jersey. Even though I am young, life has shown me some of its finest curveballs I really start to laugh when I think about the player I was when I first walked on this campus; compared to the player I am now. As a freshman, I tore my knee and didn’t play much.

Freshman year I learned what the MSSU vs. Pitt State rivalry really means…by the way we beat them TWICE that year. Then there was my sophomore year, boy did that team do big things! Prior to conference season our defense was ranking very high in the country and our team had gained a national ranking. During conference we beat top ten, nationally ranked, Emporia and then beat #2 nationally ranked Washburn on their home court! We ended the year 18-10, just one game shy of the NCAA tournament.

As a starting point guard for the Lions during my Junior year I had the most fun I have ever had playing the game of basketball with those seven seniors, Jolea, and Michelle. We had our ups and downs, but we took the conference by surprise finishing 19-10 and winning the first round game at the conference tournament in Kansas City (a first under Coach Mitts’ and her coaching staff). This season, our team consisted of nine new players (I was the only returning starter). The highlight of the season was beating an undefeated Washburn team on their home court. This year we played really well at home. Senior night was a highlight as everyone brought their best and we beat a very good Fort Hayes team by 38 points! There was only one thing that would have made that night better, a hug from Coach Williams. But, I know he was there looking down with a smile.

During my career as a Lion, each team finished in the top five or better in the conference. The Joplin As soon as it clicked for everyone on the team, all you could see were smiles from ear to ear. So, to my teammates: thank you for holding me accountable. community support is outstanding. Our fans are some of the best in the country. They make sure we are fed well and even open up their homes to us girls. So, Thank you!! To my awesome teammates (their have been so many throughout the years), you guys are the best. As an athlete things are not easy; however, the game becomes fun when the people involved in your life hold you to the same high standard they hold themselves. This is something that the members of this program do for one another (some year’s it took longer to learn than others—this year is a good example).

Then there is my coaching staff. Each one of them expected every player to bring their best effort on a daily basis. Clearly, with nine new players our coaches had a lot of things to teach. But, with Coach Mitts passion, Coach Hubbard’s amazing game plans, Coach Jones yelling, and Coach Moeller’s awesome skills we finished with winning season. I know that as a team we all wished that we could have given the coaches more wins this year, because they work hard enough to deserve to win every game. Finally, to my fellow senior Jolea: thanks for helping me carry the load and being yourself on a day to day basis. If I had it all to do over again, my choice would be easy...MSSU.

Once again, Thank you to all those who support MSSU Lady Lions, I couldn’t not have done it without you. To the ’10-’11 squad, Jolea and I expect big things next year. Work hard and know that your best will always be good enough!

It’s a great day to be a LION… Once a Lion, ALWAYS a LION!

Randi Henderson
Sr. Point Guard

Let the Madness Begin!!

This post is written by assistant coach Marcus Moeller:

Tomorrow marks the 1st day of March. To some, it will come and go with little recognition, but to college basketball fans across the country, it marks the beginning of the most exhilarating time of the year. Die hard fans consider it better than Christmas and Thanksgiving. Simply put, the month of March...is Madness.

The tern "March Madness" was coined by the Illinois High School Executive Secretary, H.V. Porter in 1939, in a poem titled "The Basketball Ides of March". Billy Packer, however, is the one that made the expression famous when CBS took over broadcasting rights of the Men's NCAA Division 1 National Tournament. Now you can't go a day in the month of March without seeing the term on TV or hearing it on the radio, as companies nationwide have capitalized on its familiarity and visibility. From high school on up to Division 1, March marks the postseason tournaments in the game of basketball all over the nation.

This past Thursday we knocked off the University of Nebraska at Omaha, 73-62, to solidify our position in madness that is the MIAA postseason conference tournament, for the 10th straight season. The brackets have just been released and we are scheduled to play the University of Central Missouri on Thursday at 8:15pm. If you have never been to the MIAA tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, you must come see us play on Thursday. The MIAA does an unbelievable job of running a first class tournament and you will not go home disappointed.

This season has shown the unbelievable parody that exists in the MIAA conference. The conference championship was decided by one game, seeds 5 through 9 was determine by a 2 game margin, and one team in our league rattled off 7 wins in their last 9 games to qualify on the last weekend for the tourney! One head coach in our league even went as far as to say the league is as tight and close as it has been in his 20 years in the league. This type of parody is what makes March Madness so fun. Expect the unexpected, because anything can (and usually does) happen.

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

Marcus Moeller
Assistant Coach

What Junior taught us

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

Today, Coach Hubbard and I were sitting in the office going over the scouting report of our next opponent, Missouri Western. Coach Hubbard has a phenomenal mind for the game of basketball and I really enjoy listening to her break it down into its finest pieces. Scouting reports have always kind of baffled me. The reason I say that is, while I really enjoy doing them, a loss can make you feel like you've wasted a lot of time (between watching films, breaking down individual players, offenses, defenses, out of bounds situations, and game-flow tendencies, they require A LOT of time). As we sat there in the office I was reminded of one of my favorite stories...

One of my all time favorite basketball stories revolves around an extremely gifted Junior College player Junior. This week was a particularly big week for Junior and his teammates. You see, they were scheduled to play Allen County Community College, who was headlined by a guy named Isaiah "J.R." Rider. J.R. went on to be an All-American for Jerry Tarkanian at UNLV, the 5th overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft and played in "The League" until 2001. Rider was a man amongst boys at the JUCO level.

All week, in preparation for the game, Junior's coaching staff had stressed that Allen County ran the same play to open "EVERY SINGLE" game. The play consisted of a rear screen that lead to an alley-oop dunk for J.R. Rider. The coaching staff was adamant the game NOT start that way. All week the same message, "don't let Rider start the game with a dunk". Game day finally comes:

Coach: "Junior, what play is Allen gonna run to start the game?"
Junior: "Rear screen for the alley-oop to Rider."
Tip-off is here...the ball goes up and Allen County wins the tip. Rider is on the wing, rear screen comes, Rider goes back door and (as i'm sure you've guessed by now) makes the lane his launching pad as he catches the alley-oop and slams it home. Junior turns to run down the floor, looks at his coaches and proclaims with an excitement in his voice "Coach, you were right! They ran that play just like you said they would!!

If Junior only knew...

Saturday is a VERY SPECIAL day for our program. We are hosting our annual "Pink Night" and we would love to see you there. Our jerseys will be auctioned off to the 14 highest bidders, with all of the proceeds going to benefit breast cancer research. The festivities will also include a halftime presentation that will be very special. Please join us, you will not be disappointed.

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

Marcus Moeller
Assistant Coach

The Halfway Point...Almost

This post was written by Assistant Coach Marcus Moeller :

This Wednesday marks the halfway point of the conference season. After our home game against Northwest Missouri State, 10 games will have been played and there will be 10 left. As with any season, this one has shown the parody and power of the MIAA conference. With no team undefeated, the second half promises to be an intense race to Kansas City.

The last 8 days has been a wild ride for our program:

Last Saturday we went to Topeka, KS to face then unbeaten and #6 nationally ranked Washburn University. A GREAT team defensive effort and a phenomenal individual performance by Junior Jasmine Lovejoy (23 points and 17 rebounds!!) proved to be enough for the Lions to pick up the road victory!!

Two days later we traveled west to take on Ft. Hays State University. As is often the case in the MIAA, the 2^nd game of the 4 day road trip proved

to be a very tough one. After jumping out to an 8 point first half lead, we were unable to get the defensive stops we needed in the second half, and came up just short at the final buzzer.

After a Wednesday bye (due to our Monday contest at Ft.Hays), we looked forward to returning home to take on the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Another GREAT crowd was on hand during this back and forth contest. With 2 minutes to go and the game in the balance, we grabbed 3 offensive rebounds and eventually LaTice Jones scored the layup on what proved to be the play of the game for our team! We came away with a 60-57 win!

If you have looked over the league standings, you realize that the league championship is still up for grabs. There is a log jam (as is typical for the MIAA) throughout the league and the second half should be a blast to watch. We look forward to making a GREAT push for Municipal Auditorium and the conference tournament in Kansas City.

The last thing I want to leave you with are some important dates coming up for our program.
February 6^th we take on Missouri Western at

home. This night will be special as it is our “pink night”. Toting home white jerseys trimmed in pink, we will honor several people very close to our program, whose lives have been affected by Breast Cancer.
February 20^th is our final home game and “senior

night”. This night we will honor the careers of our 2 seniors, Randi Henderson and Jolea Apon. The presentation to them and their families will take place at halftime of the men’s game.

Please join us for these 2 special events.

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

Marcus Moeller
Assistant Coach

An Evening In December

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

Even in the short history of this 24 year old, there are several moments that are forever etched in the corridors of my brain. A few examples would be:

April 5, 1993--that was the day that Chris Weber called that infamous timeout (forgetting they had already used all of their timeouts) against my beloved Tar Heels to lock up the National Championship for Dean Smith and Co. I was only 8, but I can still picture the room where I sat and the furniture that quickly became my jungle gym as I paraded around in celebration.

September 11, 2001--the attacks on the World Trade Center towers and the devastation that followed was astonishing. I remember continually watching the coverage throughout the day at school. I had always hoped that school would turn into a television-a-thon...but I never had envisioned it being under these gruesome circumstances.

November 12, 2002--Suzie Ditzfield Field in Sedalia, MO was my sanctuary that cold blustery evening. My high school soccer team had advanced to the Quarterfinal of the MSHSAA state tournament. It was our school's first trip that deep in the state playoffs. After a couple fortuitist bounces, we came away 4-2 winners and were headed to the school's first ever Final Four appearance. (we lost 4 days later 2-1 in OT to the eventual state champs). We were fortunate enough to follow it up by returning to the Final Four my senior year.

May 17, 2004--The day I graduated high school. However, this was no ordinary graduation day. I was also playing in the Missouri State High School Golf tournament. It started with a 10 am tee time, continued with a less than stellar opening day on the links and then culminated with a rat race back to Joplin. I was fortunate enough to arrive 4 minutes before I was supposed to walk and recieve a rather important piece of paper.

August 6, 2004--The day my sister got married. The thing that will always stick out in my mind about this day is that I was honored to walk my sister down the aisle and hand her off...in fact my exact words were, "Drew, she's all yours" (i said with a grin)

Likewise, December 21, 2009 is a day that I don't expect to forget anytime soon. Yesterday we played a home contest against Southwestern College (KS). The festivities included a tribute to the late Charlie Williams before the game and an alumni social following the game.

Charlie Williams was a legend of the game of basketball in this area (including a short stint as an Assistant Coach in our program). After serving over 25 years at a local christian college as the Athletic Director and Men's and Women's basketball coach, he served as the boy's basketball coach at a local high school for another 4 years. Coach Williams won over 700 games combined at all levels and is a member of the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame. However, anyone who knew Coach Williams, understood that his impact went far beyond his astonishing record. He was a man that cared deeply about the lives of the young men and women that played for him. He truly cared more about his players as people than he did as basketball players. Charlie Williams was simply a great person, and he will be dearly missed.


Coach Williams rarely missed one of our games. One time Coach Mitts explained that she hates how we are on defense in the second half because she feels like they are all the way on the other end of the floor and they can't hear her as well. To that Coach Williams replied, "It's okay Maryann, i'll coach them!" Sure enough, Coach Wiliams sat on the first row (in the same seat every game) and coached up our girls in the second half. In rememberance of Coach Williams, we placed a placque on the seat back of his chair and our team placed flowers in a vase that sat next to Coach Williams' seat. His wife and 2 sons were in attendance as we honored the late Coach.

At halftime of the game we honored several alumni that came back for the game. After the game they stuck around and we had an extended ammount of time to talk. It was GREAT to see some faces from the past and to get caught up on all the success they are having. As you can imagine the stories starting flying around. Jean Hurt (a member of the first team Coach Mitts had here at Southern) even made her way to the lockeroom before the game...she even challenged any of our current players to a 3-point contest! (typical Jean). Some of the players that returned really paved the way for everything going on in our prgram now, it was such a great evening to see them!

Overall, the evening was one that I (and several others in attendance) will never forget.

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

Marcus Moeller
Assistant Coach

Lions, and Finals, and Christmas! OH MY!

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

The word "Finals" conjures up so many different thoughts and emotions for college students. Some students barely even acknowledge the week. These students believe that no amount of studying can help them revive their grade from the depths of where it has fallen during the semester. To some, it is a cuss word. These people fear they are unprepared to take an exam that will test what they have (or have not) learned over the span of the entire semester. Others relish the idea of finals. These students understand that this week signifies the culmination of another long semester and relish the opportunity finish the class and move on to a 4 week break.

To college basketball coaches and players, Finals Week gives the 2 parties a chance to take a deep breath and slow down for a minute. The athletes get to focus on finals, and the coaches focus on their team. This gives the staff a great chance to sit down and truly evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the team, and put together an attack plan for the upcoming break. The practices we have during this short time will be aimed at breaking things down, and being perfect in the "little things." This is a GREAT time to regroup and recharge for the next part of our season.

Christmas break is the best 4 weeks of the season (barring any postseason run, of course). We get to spend more time with our team, we get to see family, and we get a chance to continue the race to the championship. On December 28th we open conference play back up with a home tilt against SBU. We will get a great gauge of our team as we will play 3 conference games in 6 days. The Christmas season (coupled with the conference season) will be a GREAT one for our basketball program. Please come celebrate it with us by attending our Dec 21st and Dec 28th home games!

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

Marcus Moeller
Assistant Coach