Lady Coyote 2021 hoops preview: McKinley counts on team chemistry
Some two-year college basketball coaches might be concerned with only three returning sophomores on their roster as they enter a season also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But when that coach is the legendary Bob McKinley, who has guided the Weatherford College Lady Coyotes for decades, he simply nods and says, "Our leadership comes from program history."
That is a history that includes numerous appearances at the NJCAA Tournament and a plethora of Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference championships. The Lady Coyotes, as they say, don't rebuild, they reload, and this season that reloading will include the aforementioned three sophomores and nine freshmen.
The returning sophomores are Jessica Nerestant (Port St. Lucie, Fla.), Diamond Sweats (Dallas) and Adela Valkova (Prague).
Sweats, who averaged 9.8 points per game in the 2019-20 season, was an all-conference honoree. Valkova averaged 8.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks.
"Great basketball IQ. They all know how to play," McKinley said of his returning trio.
The Lady Coyotes are coming off a 22-9 season that saw them finish tied for third in conference play with a 10-6 record. As has been the norm in their history, they advanced to the Region V Tournament.
The chemistry has been good between the newcomers and the returners, something that brings a smile to McKinley's face and also something critical to a team with such youth being successful.
"We love all of our freshmen and believe they can all step in at one point and help," McKinley said. "All of our newcomers have been exceptional at one point or another."
Also, the season will look different in 2021, thanks to COVID-19. After a home scrimmage on Jan. 16, the regular season begins on Jan. 21, also at home. Teams are allowed six games before beginning conference play. In all, the Lady Coyotes will play 22 regular-season contests.
The postseason format is also changing. Instead of all the postseason games being played on a neutral site with four teams from each conference, the NTJCAC will have all nine teams compete in a tournament after the regular season, with the conference winners meeting in a winner-take-all contest at a neutral site to advance to the national tournament.
In the conference tournament, the higher seed will host each respective game. After a 9-vs.-8 play-in game, No. 1 will host 8, No. 2 hosts No. 7, etc. In each subsequent round, the higher seed will host.
"We love it," McKinley said excitedly of the new format. "We're looking forward to a great season."
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by Rick Mauch