Thunderbirds climb in national rankings
Matt Wilhalme
Coming off a 13-19 season last year the lady Thunderbirds have surprised everybody this season running up the scoreboard against 15 opponents.Currently, the Mesa women’s basketball team is ranked second in the nation, among other Division II junior colleges, by the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Suffering their only loss on the road against Central Arizona, a Division I team, Mesa seeks victory in the rematch at home on Jan. 28.
Before the season began, Coach Kori Stephenson was worried about creating an offensive game plan for her team but instead has discovered an excellent defense and the offense have come along on its own.
Playing mostly man-to-man defense, the team has bought into the fact that collectively every player needs to be on the same page, Stephenson said.
“Were making progress everyday with our attention to details,” Stephenson said, adding that active participation during every possession and not just going through the motions has been the reason for their success.
The team is able to get out and run quickly with the ball, react appropriately when in their transition game this season, and impress their coach.
Stephenson’s favorite moment of the season so far came against Northwest College where after learning a new complicated defensive scheme the team was able to come out and hold Northwest to only 36 points.
Stephenson is also extremely proud of the way her team has done academically; last semester the team had an average grade point average of 3.05 with four players with 4.0 GPA’s.
The team mentally prepares for every game the week before in practice by practicing six days a week, including games and watching film whenever it is available, Stephenson said.
“If you’re trying to prepare mentally right before a game your done,” Stephenson said.
The veteran players had the chance to play at a national level last season, where they finished fifth in the nation and were able to be exposed to the level of play required to be successful at that level.
Katrina Graham, a sophomore guard for MCC, was with the team last year and has been a major contributer this season.
She has also earned an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Week award with Brooke Jackson, another guard for MCC, who continues to be the teams leading scorer.
“We’re a lot faster than we have ever been, a higher collective basketball I.Q. so we know where the next pass is supposed to go,” Stephenson said.
“Success has come from a combination of mental preparation and sheer athleticism that has simply just broke down their opponents,” said Todd Bolser, Sports Information Director.
“Fantastic players, with incredible team chemistry, balanced scoring, and staunch tenacious defense makes the team extremely competitive,” Bolser said.
