There are rebuilding jobs, and then there is the task faced with Allen Community College women’s basketball coach Katie Mahoney. ACC women’s 2013-14 schedule
Mahoney, hired days before the 2013-14 school year started to replace the departing Mark James, is greeted with a team of almost exclusively newcomers.
Only one Red Devil player, Kylie Molisee, returns from Allen’s 14-17 squad from a year ago.
The team’s success will hinge upon how well the Red Devil women learn to work as a unit, said Mahoney, a former basketball standout herself who starred in high school and college in Oklahoma before playing professionally overseas.
“We’re still trying to find our own identity,” Mahoney said. “The girls have improved a lot, but we still have a long way to go.”
A pair of incoming transfers from Dodge City Community College have made a good first impression, Mahoney said.
Nicole Salazar, a San Antonio, Texas, native, will be Allen’s starting point guard.
She averaged more than 6 points and 3 assists per game last year at Dodge City.
“She’s more of a distributor, but she’s not afraid to take the open shot, and she can get to the free throw line,” Mahoney said. “She’s good at trying to get her teammates involved.”
Salazar’s teammate from Dodge City, Chicago native Jameeshia Armstrong, can play as a guard or foward. The 5-8 sophomore led the Conquistadors in scoring at 10.7 points per game in 2012-13.
“Jameeshia is a good shooter, and she’s very competitive,” Mahoney said. “She brings a lot of energy to the floor.”
But that’s pretty much it for collegiate experience, aside from Molisee’s play last year. In spot duty, Molisee, a 5-11 forward out of Clearwater, averaged 1.1 points and 2 rebounds per game.
“She has some good size and will help us with her experience,” Mahoney said.
O’ceonna Weston, a 5-9 guard/forward out of St. Joseph, Mo., brings a high basketball IQ.
“She doesn’t talk a lot,” Mahoney said. “She leads more by example. She has a great feel for the game.”
Raytown, Mo., forward Briana Barrett shined in practice until being hobbled by an ankle injury.
“She brings athleticism and she rebounds well,” Mahoney said. “I’m interested in seeing how she moves along from her injury.”
Erika Essman, a 5-2 freshman out of Meriden, will serve as a backup point guard. Makayla Hancock, a 5-3 guard out of Kansas City, Mo., offers strong defense.
The injury bug has taken a bite out of Allen’s depth.
Reagan McLellan, a 5-7 guard out of Allen — the town, not the county — had surgery to repair a torn miniscus in her knee, as did Asia Shelton, another Raytown product. Shelton is a 5-8 forward.
Still another player, Krystal Dean, was lost for the season with a knee injury and will red shirt.
“The injuries have hurt us quite a bit,” Mahoney said. “We’ve had to readjust what we want to do with different personnel. The Jayhawk Conference has a lot of athletic teams, and most of them will be bigger than we are. As we saw in our scrimmages, we’re going to have to make up for our lack of size by playing smart, fundamental basketball.”
The Red Devils will host Hesston Saturday.
Allen Community College women’s 2013-14 roster
1 Nicole Salazar San Antonio Guard 5’4” Sophomore
2 Makayla Hancock Kansas City, Mo. Guard 5’3” Freshman
3 Jameeshia Armstrong Chicago, Ill. Guard/Forward 5’8” Sophomore
4 Rebecca Fisher Osawatomie Guard/Forward 5’6” Sophomore
5 Kylie Molisee Clearwater Post 5’11” Sophomore
10 Asia Shelton Raytown, Mo. Forward 5’8” Freshman
12 Brooke Winter Clearwater Guard 5’8” Freshman
20 O’ceonna Weston St. Joseph, Mo. Guard/Forward 5’9” Freshman
22 Reagan McClellan Allen Guard 5’7” Freshman
23 Erika Essman Meriden Guard 5’2” Freshman
24 Kailey Cleaver Erie Guard 5’5” Freshman
30 Alisn Stevens Wichita Guard 5’3” Freshman
45 Briana Barrett Raytown, Mo. Forward 5’9” Freshman
Nov. 2 — Hesston, 2 p.m.
Nov. 5 — Cottey College, 6 p.m.
Nov. 8 — vs. Tabor JV (at Hutchinson, 5:30 p.m.)
Nov. 9 — Hutchinson, 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 12 — Fort Scott, 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 15 — Barton, (at Chanute), TBA
Nov. 16 —Pratt (at Chanute), TBA
15-16
Nov. 19 — Kansas City, Kan., 5 p.m.
Nov. 22 — Tabor JV, 6 p.m.
Dec. 3 — Fort Scott, 6 p.m.
Dec. 4 —Oklahoma Wesleyan JV, 6 p.m.
Dec. 7 — Hesston, 2 p.m.
Dec. 9 — Ottawa JV, 6 p.m.
Dec. 14 — Johnson County, 2 p.m.
Jan. 8 — Cottey College, 6 p.m.
Jan. 11 — Kansas City, Kan., 4 p.m.
Jan. 15 — Coffeyville, 6 p.m.
Jan. 18 — Cowley, 2 p.m.
Jan. 22 — Butler, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 25 — Neosho, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 28 — Ottawa JV, 5 p.m.
Feb 1. — Labette, 2 p.m.
Feb. 3 — Independence, 6 p.m.
Feb. 5 — Cowley, 6 p.m.
Feb. 8 — Butler, 2 p.m.
Feb. 12 — Coffeyville, 6 p.m.
Feb. 19 — Neosho, 6 p.m.
Feb. 22 — Labette, 2 p.m.
Feb. 26 — Independence, 6 p.m.
Home games in Bold
New coach, players join ACC
