11/14/11

Lima, OH – The 2011-12 edition of Lady Barons basketball is a young squad full of powerful and dedicated basketball talent from 10 different schools. If early workouts are any indication this team is going to go the extra mile to find a way to be successful as they’ve been working extremely hard during the preseason. “They really love the game, they want to play the game, and their attitude shows that!” said first year head coach, Kelli Macdonald-Risner. Coach Macdonald-Risner added “We have 11 Freshmen, all but 2 from different schools, that have come from very different coaching styles, yet they are more than willing to learn to work together and learn each other’s styles. They have been stepping up with their own input on different plays to help us as a team figure out why some things will work for us better than others.”

The strength of this young team should be over all athleticism, as Coach Macdonald-Risner has assembled a lot of talent in her first year. At the same time, with youth and athleticism comes the common concern of cohesiveness and ball movement as well as movement away from the ball. If these young Lady Barons can work their way through some early growing pains it should be a very exciting season!

Some more specific information about these newest Lady Barons…..Dionna Hurley (Lima Senior), is a 5’10” post player that not only will dominate the inside but she is also one of the team’s top 3 point shooters; Jade Elking (Carroll), is one of the strongest players on the team, the total package at 5’10” she can transition from post to forward at any time; Emma Sawmiller (Wapakoneta), is a great defensive player as well as an offensive leader with great knowledge of the game and ability to see the whole court and to know how plays will develop;  Briana Finnerty (Fairview) & Devin Cline (Cory Rawson), standing at 6’0” & 6’1”, these two young ladies add great size to the team’s post and both have ability to score from both the key and the perimeter, look for both to contribute all year; Nykel Simpson (Lima Senior), the smallest in stature, makes up for that in ball handling ability; Alisha Weis (St. Wendelin), a very good ball handler with ability to drive to the hoop, also a key defender; Kearra Cooper (Shawnee), very strong and tough defensive player who will rattle her opponent; Haylie Morris (Hardin Northern), the 5’8” forward has the ability to play anywhere on the floor, is also one of the team’s top performers at the free throw line; Chelsie Raterman (Benjamin Logan), one of the team’s toughest players, although not very tall, she uses positioning and effort to be an excellent rebounder; Laura Shomody (Rossford), the team’s deadeye from three point land, when she’s on, she won’t miss!

Come on out and support your Lady Barons. This week we have 2 home contests versus Cedarville JV @ 7PM on Monday, November 14^th and versus Edison State @ 6:30PM on Thursday, November 17^th.

11/14/11

Lima, OH – The 2011-12 Barons Mens Basketball team has already gotten their season underway. Early on the team appears to be one that will find success through maximum effort and good all-around defensive play.  “There is a lot of upside throughout our whole roster, we’re just a little raw as far as basketball experience is concerned. I have been happy with the improvement so far and think we have a good year ahead of us!” said first year Head Coach Nick Pittman.

With only 3 members returning from last year’s squad that nearly made a run all the way to a conference title, this year’s squad will need to quickly form a personality of their own. With that lack of returning experience, it is expected that this year’s squad will have some growing pains developing their offensive style early on, but with a good amount of talent, good things shouldn’t be too far away. Coach Pittman added “We have the three returners, Brady Schroeder, Xavier Gross, and Trois Cooper, their experience will be a great help in bringing this team where we want it to be. As far as the new comers, two have separated themselves early on as Cortey Edwards has done a nice job running the point, he’s got a lot of speed with the ball and is also a great defender while Ben Schwarzman has also proven to be a very versatile member of the team playing 4 different positions already while leading the team in scoring.

Come out and support your Barons. The team will return home on November 23^rd.