NHS girls have strong nucleus

Nov 29, 2008 (The Norman Transcript - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- WSMO | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Last year the Norman High girls finished just short of their goal.

The Tigers fell at the Ford Center to Sapulpa 51-44 in a tough, back-and-forth Class 6A semifinal.

The loss is still fresh in senior forward Ashley Bruner's memory, but now she's just looking forward to this season's opener Tuesday at Del City.

And Bruner thinks this year's Tigers may be even further along than last year's were at this point.

"By this time last year, we didn't know who was playing where," Bruner said. "We only had two returning starters."

This season, three starters are back. Joining Bruner are sophomores Jeannie Ramon, a forward, and Kamra King, at point guard. Both King (4.4 points, 2.4 assists per game) and Ramon (7.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg) played with older sisters Lacy and Sasha, respectively, at NHS last year. And both started as freshmen.

"It's a good nucleus coming back," NHS coach Matilda Mossman said. "That's a good three to start with."

Also getting key playing time this year will be juniors Chelsea Key and Gwen Nelson and senior Courtney Brown. All three saw significant court time last year, and Key averaged 4.3 points per game.

After that, things are a bit up in the air. Oh, Mossman knows who she'll be looking to (freshman Jordan Franks, sophomores Kim Hayes, Olivia Meek and seniors Ann Patterson and Amy McGehee), but not what to expect. There's just not much experience after the top six.

"They're still learning and they're pretty inexperienced," Mossman said. "They're going to be competing for playing time."

Bruner is the big name, though.

She's on the cover of a state basketball preview magazine, and she's getting unprecedented attention now that she's the obvious focal point of the NHS offense. Not that she wasn't last year (she averaged 14.5 points and 9.6 rebounds a game), but now it's her final prep season. She's come a long way since she was a quiet, nervous freshman in the middle of the varsity lineup.

"I was so shy, I didn't know what to say," Bruner said.. I didn't want to say anything back. I just kept it all short and sweet. I do like (the attention), to an extent. But every time someone says something good about you, they have to say something bad."

There's not much bad to say about Bruner's game. If it lacks something in flash, it's made up for in ferocity and consistency.

And if King can get the ball into the post to her and Ramon can grab a few rebounds and give opponents something else to worry about down low and Key and Brown can hit some outside shots, the Tigers should find themselves in another strong position come the end of February.

Jeff Johncox

366-3535

jjohncox@normantranscript.com

NHS Girls

Coach: Matilda Mossman, 7th season

Last year's record: 21-6; season ended at Class 6A state tournament

Returning starters: Ashley Bruner, Sr. F; Kamra King, So. G; Jeannie Ramon, So. F

Players to watch: Chelsea Key, Jr. G; Courtney Brown, Sr. G; Gwen Nelson, Jr. F

Offense: Multiple

Defense: Multiple

Telling game: Dec. 2, at Del City

The scoop: Bruner can expect to see plenty of double teams this year. It might be hard for Bruner to find a clear way to the basket if the NHS guards aren't hitting from outside. King is taking over from older sister Sasha at the point, but she's still trying to get used to leading the team on the court. Ramon should provide another good scoring and rebounding option for NHS in the paint, and Mossman said her outside shot is coming along, too.

Notable: The Tigers will learn a lot about their team in a hurry. Del City is a tough season opener, and Edmond Memorial, another strong program, visits the NHS Gym Dec. 9. Two days later the Tigers begin play at the Tournament of Champions in Fort Smith, Ark., where they're bound to see some of the strongest programs in this part of the country. And the competition aside, it's a teambuilding opportunity very early in the season. How the Tigers look coming out of Arkansas (the first Crosstown Clash is Dec. 19) could tell plenty about the rest of their season.

NHS Boys

Coach: Wes Clark, 7th season

Last year's record: 9-14; season ended at Class 6A regional

Returning starters: Brock Vorwald, Sr. F; Colton Coale, So. G; Jarrod Boersma, So. G

Players to watch: Jamie Myers, So. G; Malone Kauffman, So. G; Matt Cruz, So. G; Will Saxon, So. F

Offense: Motion

Defense: Multiple

Telling game: Dec. 9, at Edmond Memorial.

The scoop: Terrence Boyd was supposed to be here this year. He's not. Kyle Hardrick was supposed to be here this year. He's not. The Tigers have lost their two leading rebounders and scorers from last season, and they're most productive returner is Brock Vorwald. The senior forward came off the bench to spell Hardrick, or when Hardrick was in foul trouble. Vorwald, point guard Colton Coale and Boersma return to the starting lineup, giving Clark an experienced core group to work with.

Notable: Despite having two of Class 6A's better players in Hardrick and Austin Allen, NHS finished well short of expectations last season. This year Clark swears his group is more cohesive, and the Tiger head man has done more with less in the past five years. If this young team can gel early, it should make some noise in the second half of the season.

Norman High 2008-09 Basketball Schedule

December

2, Del City; 5, at Lawton; 9, Edmond Memorial; 11-13 Tournament of Champions, Fort Smith, Ark. (girls); 16, Southmoore; 19, at Norman North.

January

6, at Moore; 8-10, at Westmoore Tournament (girls); 8-10, at McGuinness Tournament (Boys); 16, at Midwest City; 20, at Westmoore; 22-24, Norman Invitational Tournament (Boys); 30, Norman North.

February

3, at Edmond Memorial; 6, at Southmoore; 7, Lawton; 10, Moore; 13, Del City; 17, Midwest City; 20, Westmoore; 26-28, OSSAA Regionals.

March

5-7, OSSAA Area; 12-14, OSSAA State Tournament.

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