Bob McKinley became the nation’s winningest active junior college women’s basketball coach last season, as his team was on its way to winning a third straight conference title. McKinley’s teams have never missed the postseason in his 30-plus years at WC. If any team has a target on its back, it’s the Lady Coyotes.
And that’s just fine with the head coach.
“If I had to pick, I’d put us first in conference again this year,” McKinley said. “Tradition means a lot at this level. Our players put big expectations on themselves because of what’s happened before.”
That’s not to say that he thinks it will be easy. The coaching veteran says his team’s inside game should be improved, but overall inexperience will be the question mark for the upcoming season.
The size is there underneath the basket, with 6-foot-4 Monica McGill returning at the post position along with newcomer Shameka Lunford, a 6-foot-3 shot-blocker from Brazoswood. McKinley has toyed with a double-post attack because of the abilities of his frontcourt.
At forward, Chaundra Cleaver and Brittany Wilkins return from last season, with Santo freshman Mitzi Miller vying for playing time.
At point guard, McKinley calls returning All-Conference honoree Kasondra Foreman the “quickest player around.” Andrea Davis, sister of former Lady Coyote Ashley Davis, comes highly touted from Wichita Falls Hirchi.
McKinley says the usual suspects should compete with WC for the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference title: Cisco, Grayson, Collin and McLennan.
“Others in the conference say we’ll have a hard time repeating, but I don’t see why we shouldn’t be in the hunt.”
In Region V, Midland returns after a 30-0 regular season, along with reigning regional champ Howard, and contenders Odessa, South Plains and New Mexico.
As far as the honor of coaching the most wins in the NJCAA, McKinley immediately throws the credit back to his players.
“I’ve been fortunate to have a good situation here. I’ve had good players, but more than that, I’ve had good people. That makes all the difference.”
Sports
Related Photos
-
KAY BIGGS/DEMOCRAT PHOTO
Lady Coyotes vie for 4-Peat
- Sports
-
-
McKinley nets 800th win
Bob McKinley hit a major coaching milestone Saturday afternoon.
-
WHS wrestlers see success at district meet
The Weatherford wrestling team traveled to Springtown Saturday to compete in the District 8 Wrestling Championships.
-
New designation, same foes for WHS
Despite rumblings of a major shake up in the Class 5A infrastructure for the next two years, the University Interscholastic League (UIL), for good or bad, chose indifference regarding plans to create a Class 6A. As alignments for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 UIL seasons were announced Thursday, most area schools were affected in varying degrees, but none less than Weatherford High School.
-
Paschal edges WHS teams on Senior Night
With nothing to lose and an opportunity to play spoiler, Paschal's Lady Panthers took the floor loose and energetic on Friday, and did indeed put a crimp in Weatherford's plans for a postseason spot at Kangaroo gymnasium.
-
WC recovers, wins late over Navarro
Not to be outdone by the Lady Coyotes late-inning heroics in their opener last week, the Weatherford College baseball team had plenty of drama in its opener, as well, as it launched a final-inning 3-run barrage to beat defending national champion Navarro College, 8-7.
-
Area sports schedules — Week of February 6
It is official. With the start of area prep baseball and softball scrimmages in the coming week, as well as Weatherford College playing its baseball season-opener on Saturday last, the busiest time of year, sports-wise for Parker County, has emerged.
-
Weatherford College Baseball Preview
When Jeff Lightfoot started the Weatherford College baseball program almost a decade ago, he wasted no time in building a winner — and fans have gotten used to the Coyotes being a part of the postseason.
So with the start of each season comes high expectations, all with the hopes of getting that elusive first Junior College World Series berth. Lightfoot has a JUCO World Series title as a coach at Eastfield College in Mesquite in 2001.
-
WC snags WHS diamond standout
It is not the first time, and certainly will not be the last that a metaphorical baton, in this case, a baseball student-athlete has been passed from Weatherford High School to Weatherford College. Groomed on the diamond for the past four years by WHS head coach Terry Massey and assistant Jason Lee, senior Trooper Reynolds confirmed his scholastic and athletic intentions at the next step on Friday, signing a national letter-of-intent to Weatherford College.
-
Softball era begins at WC
The crowd on hand Saturday at the Weatherford College Softball Complex was already standing-room only for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a full 30 minutes before the first pitch was thrown to open the inaugural regular season of the WC Lady Coyotes softball team. Fans and well-wishers were strewn from the concessions mezzanine behind the first-base line, through the packed stands and even into the Lady Coyotes dugout.
-
Basketball briefs - Jan. 29
Arlington Lamar hill too steep for Roos
Staff Report
Weatherford found some offensive punch in the fourth quarter of their District 4-5A match at Arlington Lamar on Friday, but the hole was too deep by then, as Weatherford dropped the contest to the Vikes, 57-39.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
