By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Exeter girls coach Jason Cole believed before the season started that the Tigers, based on their experience and strong performance in 2007-08, could make a run for the MSHSAA Class 1 championship.
“I thought we had the opportunity,” Cole said.
Cole was a prophet. Exeter, capped by a dominating 56-31 win against Marion County at Columbia in Mizzou Arena, finished 30-1.
Cole, who was in his sixth season at Exeter, is The Globe’s girls coach of the year for 2008-09.
“Defense was the difference,” Cole said. “Definitely, we had to improve our defense. Our players bought into it.
“We guarded better,” Cole said. “We were a year older and more mature.
“We also had to solidify our bench,” Cole said. “We didn’t have a sixth man off the bench. It really depended on what we needed at the time.”
Returning Exeter starters included three seniors in Katie Chadd, Whitney Edie and Kasie Scott. Plus, Shelby Bowman, a junior, and sophomore Destani Stensrud had started.
Exeter was coming off a 22-7 effort that extended into a quarterfinal loss to Delta in the West Plains Civic Center.
Leaders off the bench this season were junior Nicholle O’Neill, sophomore Ashton Scott and freshman Abbey Scott.
Exeter was unbeaten (12-0) in the Ozark 7 Conference and the 6-foot-1 Edie was named its player of the year for the fourth time. It was the Tigers’ third title for the seniors.
The 6-foot-1 Edie averaged 26 points and 13 rebounds and piled up career totals of 2,792 points and 1,388 rebounds.
Stensrud added averages of 11 points and 3.1 assists. Bowman averaged 7.9 points.
“We wound up very balanced in categories such as steals and assists,” Cole said.
The Exeter loss came in the finals of the Walnut Grove Positronic Industries Holiday Classic. Couch, a Class 2 semifinalist, posted a 43-38 win.
The obvious question for Cole and assistant Jesse Paulsen, another Southwest product, is what can the Tigers do for an encore after the crown that equaled the boys’ 1962-63 edition? Those Tigers won Class S and finished 35-0 under Tom Hewgley.
“I believe we’ll be competitive and better than what a lot of people believe,” Cole said.
Cole, 32, is a native of Monett and a 1995 graduate of Southwest High School. He attended Crowder College before securing his degree from Missouri Southern.
Cole coached at Southwest for four years before accepting the Exeter position.
Cole is married to the former Tracie Burns, another Southwest graduate, and they have two children — daughter Kylee, 2, and son Kaden, who turns 1 in July.
Sports
Exeter’s Cole named girls basketball coach of year
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
