2013-14 basketball season is upon us
Rene Gomez
Coach Kori Stephenson led the team to a 27-6 record, a second consecutive Region I title, a number two national ranking, and finished second place in the NJCAA Division II national championship game.
Stephenson is entering her eighth season as head coach and in that time has a record of 151-76.
In the last five seasons, Stephenson’s teams have won at least 20 games.
Last season four freshmen were starters, and they return with higher expectations than last year.
Sophomore point guard Leslie Tademy is a leader on the court and the offense is run by her.
Sophomore Madison Austin played forward last year, but will move to center.
Austin led the team in scoring with 12.8 points per game followed by sophomore shooting guard Mariah Willadsen with 10.8 points per game.
Sophomore guard Peace Amukamara provides energy and athleticism, plus when Tademy is on the bench, Amukamara takes over point guard.
Even though the team lost sophomore players who provided size, this team can win.
The regular season for the women begins Nov. 8 against Odessa (Texas) followed by Snow (Utah) on Nov. 9.
With all of these starters returning, the T-Birds women’s team could have repeat success this year in the region, and potentially make another national run.
Coach Sam Ballard has been a coach since 1980 and has coached the Mesa T-Birds for five seasons, four of which had teams going to the Division I playoffs.
Ballard has compiled a 97-51 record at Mesa and a 76-38 record against ACCAC teams.
In 2010, Ballard led the T-Birds to a Region I championship, and in that same year he was named ACCAC coach of the year.
The team has many returning players including sophomore point guard Shyheim McClelland, sophomore guards Tre’ Ogles and Anthony Hatfield, and sophomore forward Ryan Hintze.
This team may be slightly undersized, but they have explosive athleticism, saavy basketball IQ, length, and good balance on offense.
McClelland can get to the rim at will, Ogles has a soft shooting touch to go with range, and Hintze brings an interior toughness that will give opposing big men fits.
Last year the T-Birds finished the season with a 24-7 overall record and 19-3 in conference ending up in second place for the regular season.
This team can also repeat their success last season in 2013-2014.
The T-Birds open their season Nov. 1-2 at the Blackwell Classic in Ottumwa, Iowa where they are scheduled to face William Penn JV and Indian Hills.
The home opener will be Nov. 9 against Snow (Utah) at Theo J. Heap Gymnasium.
