Challenging for a third straight PSAC Playoff berth is the goal for a young and talented 2006 Clarion University women’s basketball team that tips off its season Nov. 15 when it hosts Charleston (W.Va.).
The Golden Eagles, who reached the NCAA DII Tournament for the first time since 1995 last year, have qualified for the PSAC Playoffs in three of the past four seasons including a trip to the semifinals a year ago when they finished 23-7 overall and 10-2 in the PSAC-West.
“TEAM EFFORT” KEY TO SUCCESS
A “team effort” will be the key to the 2006 season, as 17th year head coach “Gie” Parsons, the winningest coach in school history (249-197), needs to replace 66 percent of both the Eagles scoring (48.9 ppg) and rebounding (27.6 rpg) from a year ago.
“I don’t expect one or two players to step in and fill the void,” said Parsons, the PSAC-West and WBCA DII Region 2 Coach of the Year in ’05. “It’s going to take a team effort. This team needs to establish its own identity and style of play.”
Parsons will be doing a lot of teaching this season with a young team that includes only two starters, one senior and three upperclassmen among its ranks.
“We look at this year as both a reloading and rebuilding season,” Parsons said. “We may not win 23 games like last year, but we have a chance to be a good if not very good team. Our goal is to be in the top four in the PSAC-West and qualify for the PSAC Playoffs. Once you get to the playoffs, anything can happen.
Clarion will be a guard-oriented team playing an up-tempo style that is different from the past few seasons when the Eagles were a classic post team.
“We aren’t very tall,” Parsons said. “Our strength lies in our guards, and because of that our style will be different. We will have the ability to play a more up-tempo style at both ends of the court. Defense will be a key for us, as we will need to force some turnovers. In addition, fundamentals, especially in rebounding, will also be a key. Rebounding is going to be a collective team effort, and we are going to have to make sure we box out well.”
MELTON, GRIMM LEAD TALENTED GUARDS
Leading the way at the guard spots will be two returning starters including senior Melba Melton, a 2nd team PSAC-West choice after transferring to Clarion last year, and sophomore Ashley Grimm.
Melton, who is also a PSAC-West preseason All-Conference selection, finished fifth in the PSAC with 4.73 apg in 2005 while dishing out 142 helpers, the 3rd most in a season in school history. She added 11.8 ppg and 65 steals.
Grimm, the returning starter at point guard, ran the offensive like a senior instead of a freshman ending with 125 assists (5th most in school history), while averaging 5.7 ppg and 3.6 rpg. She also had 60 steals. Her 4.17 apg ranked ninth in the PSAC.
Two incoming freshmen, who were both All-State performers last year, give Clarion a formidable guard combination.
Katrina Greer from Centre Hall was a third-team Class AA All-State selection averaging 23.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg for Penns Valley High School. She finished her career with 1,987 points and 118 three-pointers while averaging 18.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 2.2 spg. Leah Shrift from Ebensburg was a first-team Class A All-State selection after averaging 18.7 ppg and 9.8 rpg for Bishop Carroll. She was a member of two state championship teams at Bishop Carroll and finished with 1,333 career points.
“We have really doubled our quality at guard this year brining in two freshmen who we believe will have an immediate impact,” Parsons said.
Providing depth in the guard spots will be junior Jessica Skeggs (1.1 ppg), sophomores Michelle Johnson (1.2 ppg) and Jessica Smith (0.9 ppg) and freshmen Chelsey Grabigel (Pittsburgh/Highlands) and Angie Woods (Pittsburgh/Westinghouse).
ALBANESE, GRATTON STEP IN AT THE POST
Sophomores Jessica Albanese and April Gratton (Bethel Park/Bethel Park) are expected to start in the post.
Albanese was a key reserve last year averaging 6.9 ppg and 4.5 rpg, while Gratton is a transfer from James Madison where she played in nine games with 2 points. She finished her high-school career with 1,327 points and was a 2nd team Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Class AAAA selection as a senior.
“We need Jessica to take another step up just like she did last year when she made the transition from high school to college, Parsons said. “April is a very talented player who is good both inside and outside. She is a smart player, and we expect her to be one of our leaders.”
Freshmen Rachel Franklin (Warren/Warren) and Janelle Zabresky (Dallas/Bishop O’Reilly) will provide depth in the post.
Franklin was a red-shirt last year after scoring 7.4 ppg at Warren HS, while Zabresky is still recovering from a knee injury she suffered in the last year. She was a second-team All-State performer her junior year.
GOLDEN EAGLES NOTES: The Golden Eagles are fourth in the PSAC-West Pre-season coaches poll… The top 4 teams from the PSAC-West make the PSAC… The key players gone from last year’s team are Heather Cigich (17.0 ppg in her career, 1,832 points, 1,121 rebounds), the school’s all-time leading scorer by points per game, as well as fellow starters Amelia Harris (10.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg in ’05) and Shay Godwin (14.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg) and key reserve Tiffany Peacock (7.0 ppg).
Sr. Melba Melton
So. Ashley Grimm
So. Jessica Albanese