By Mac Moore
It’s not often in sports that a team finishes at 32-3, is faced with replacing multiple All-Americans, and still sees a chance to improve the following season. The Lady Cavs squad is currently working toward that possibility.
The team started out this season at an impressive 6-0 and outscored their opponents by an average of 52 points per game. This early domination has propelled the team from seventh in the preseason NJCAA poll to first in the first regular season poll.
This accomplishment is a great sign for the young squad, which before the season saw youth as the biggest obstacle of obtaining a similar record as last season.
“We are a young team but we understand that we have to grow up fast,” sophomore Kathleen Brisbane said.
The numbers have been staggering for the squad. The team is averaging more than 80 points per game and giving up just a tad more than 30. Four players are averaging double figures in scoring, making the team very balanced and difficult for opposing defenses to key on scorers.
“We’ve got a lot of weapons out there,” Ben Conrad, head coach, said. “I wouldn’t want to have to guard our group, especially as our season progresses.”
Conrad does point out that the current numbers are more reflective of strength of schedule than how the numbers will finish up at the end of the year. Right now he is less focused on the specific numbers, more so on the product.
“I think our numbers right now reflect just a talent gap between us and our opponents, to be honest,” Conrad said. “We’re making a real effort during this off week to get right on both ends. We really aren’t even close to scratching the surface of where this team can be later on.”
If the team can make that step towards Conrad’s vision, the ceiling on the team is high. The true test will come as the team enters conference play. The first game of East Jayhawk Conference play will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 at Highland Community College.
Contact Mac Moore, sports editor, at mmoore82@jccc.edu.