2008 Woodie Awards
Ripple welcomes recruits, new lineup
Jared Wilkes
Issue date: 1/18/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Head Coach Jake Ripple and the Lady Busters welcome new recruits from other sports at GCCC.
Ripple recruited players from volleyball, softball, and cross-country. Once their seasons ended, the girls had to learn the program quickly.
LaTaish Brown who came to GCCC and starred on the volleyball team, strived to adjust to her new position on the starting lineup.
"It was tough for me to adjust because most of the girls on the team already knew each other," Brown, Garden City, said.
Brown, who plays guard for the Lady Busters, has taken the role as a key player and leader, averaging 11.1 points per game and 7.8 rebounds this season. Having players coming from other sports and building team unity was not a problem for the Lady Busters.
"We all get along on and off the court so it made it easy to build a team," Brown said.
Even with the small amount of players, the team still has unity.
"With a small roster, we didn't really have to worry about team unity," Ripple said. "The girls came together easier because of the small number."
The Lady Busters experienced tough times due to the rough season and injuries resulting in a limited number of players. Ripple has seen the women's basketball team struggle this season on communicating and relying on each other.
"They don't lean on each other enough," Ripple said. "I wish they would lean on each other more when hard times come."
In agreement with Ripple, Brown said the players lean on each other in practice, but should do the same in games.
After losing ten stressful games, the scoreboard began to show a welcome change in the game against Neosho County. The Lady Busters earned their first win, 56-54.
"Getting the first win was a relief," Brown said. "It took some of the pressure off the team."
Ripple said he is proud of the girls who came from other sports, who were supportive and stepped up as leaders.
"I am proud of the girls, they have been working very hard this season."
Ripple is beginning his first head coaching job and season for the women's basketball team. He has spent the last four seasons at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Prior to being at SOSU, he was an assistant coach at Barton County Community College where he led the Lady Cougars to three regional tournaments and a Region VI Championship in 2000.
The Lady Busters next game is against Seward County Community College Jan. 24.
Barton County Community College defeated the Lady Busters 54-86 last night.
Ripple recruited players from volleyball, softball, and cross-country. Once their seasons ended, the girls had to learn the program quickly.
LaTaish Brown who came to GCCC and starred on the volleyball team, strived to adjust to her new position on the starting lineup.
"It was tough for me to adjust because most of the girls on the team already knew each other," Brown, Garden City, said.
Brown, who plays guard for the Lady Busters, has taken the role as a key player and leader, averaging 11.1 points per game and 7.8 rebounds this season. Having players coming from other sports and building team unity was not a problem for the Lady Busters.
"We all get along on and off the court so it made it easy to build a team," Brown said.
Even with the small amount of players, the team still has unity.
"With a small roster, we didn't really have to worry about team unity," Ripple said. "The girls came together easier because of the small number."
The Lady Busters experienced tough times due to the rough season and injuries resulting in a limited number of players. Ripple has seen the women's basketball team struggle this season on communicating and relying on each other.
"They don't lean on each other enough," Ripple said. "I wish they would lean on each other more when hard times come."
In agreement with Ripple, Brown said the players lean on each other in practice, but should do the same in games.
After losing ten stressful games, the scoreboard began to show a welcome change in the game against Neosho County. The Lady Busters earned their first win, 56-54.
"Getting the first win was a relief," Brown said. "It took some of the pressure off the team."
Ripple said he is proud of the girls who came from other sports, who were supportive and stepped up as leaders.
"I am proud of the girls, they have been working very hard this season."
Ripple is beginning his first head coaching job and season for the women's basketball team. He has spent the last four seasons at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Prior to being at SOSU, he was an assistant coach at Barton County Community College where he led the Lady Cougars to three regional tournaments and a Region VI Championship in 2000.
The Lady Busters next game is against Seward County Community College Jan. 24.
Barton County Community College defeated the Lady Busters 54-86 last night.
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