Young guards look to power Red Devils

The women’s team that Allen Community College head coach Todd Buchanan sends out onto the floor for pre-game warm-ups tonight against Missouri Bapwtist will be nothing like the one that ended the 2015-2016 season.
Literally nothing.
Allen’s only returning player, sophomore forward DaMonica Franklin, will miss the game, meaning that every player that suits up will be a fresh face for the Red Devils.
The whole-sale changes come with Buchanan going into his second year at the helm and the veteran coach says that this year’s squad should be able to mesh with the style of play he wants to see a little bit better than last year’s squad.
“I think we will be able to play quick, but we can’t be in too much of a hurry and playing so fast that we can’t have success,” Buchanan said.
The young Devils will rely heavily on the playmaking and scoring prowess of freshman guard Tamera Shaver — No. 10 — who Buchanan was able to recruit this summer from Moore, Okla.
“Tamera is going to have to be the straw that stirs the drink,” Buchanan said.
A pair of Kansas kids will join Shaver in the Chelsey Trautloff — No. 14 — from Horton and Katelyn Swanson — No. 2 — from Phillipsburg.
“Katelyn has really come in and provided some great leadership and Chelsey is doing the same,” Buchanan said.
Buchanan filled out his backcourt with a addition late in the recruiting process and was able to bring in 5-10 guard Sequerah Allyne — No. 23 — from Billings, Mont.
“She is going to be a big, big part of our guard core,” Buchanan said.
A player that is sure to work her way into the rotation as well is Arkansas-native Kam Summons – No. 4. Summons is a point guard prospect with loads of potential according to her coach.
“Kam continues to learn,” Buchanan said. “I have been so proud of her work ethic and attitude.”
Kendra Houston — No. 11 — rounds out the talented group of freshmen guards. She gives the Red Devils another strong ball handler and a knock-down shooter.
With all of these young players, Buchanan is hoping they can mesh together quickly.
“Right now, the most important thing is to play together,” Buchanan said. “Our ability to play together and chemistry will be big. We need to keep the ups as high as we can and when we get into a slump, we need to be able to turn it around as quick as we can.”
In order to do that, it is important that the Red Devils can develop confidence in the non-conference and early season games and that begins tonight with Missouri Baptist.
“With a young team, confidence early is going to be crucial for us,” Buchanan said.
Buchanan says tonight’s game will likely be a good test to see what those new guards are able to do.
“(Missouri Baptist) is very, very guard-oriented,” Buchanan said. “I expect them to be a saavy and smart team. They should have a very high basketball I.Q. and be able to drive it.”
Allen’s size should be a big advantage.
“(Missouri Baptist’s) tallest player is about 5-10 or 5-11, so hopefully we can take advantage of that with some mismatch situations by posting our bigger guards and posting post players.”
Allen and Missouri Baptist will tip-off the regular season tonight at 6 p.m., in Iola.