By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
GRANBY, Mo. — Basketball apparently won over volleyball for East Newton High School’s Katy Cooper.
Cooper, an all-Big Conference selection in the two sports, signed a national letter of intent in basketball with NCAA Division II Pittsburg State on Monday.
“I talked briefly with colleges about volleyball,” the 6-foot-2 Cooper said. “But I like basketball better. I like the hustle and drive you have in basketball.
“I know mom (the former Sara Baker who played basketball at Crowder College) is excited,” Cooper said.
Cooper, a four-year varsity performer, said that PSU coach Lane Lord saw her play last season.
The Gorillas finished 20-9 overall and reached the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament in 2008-09.
East Newton, with Cooper earning all-conference honors in 2008-09, finished 17-11 overall — the Patriots lost to Seneca in the District 3-12 final — and 3-4 in the Big 8 under Rusty McDermott.
Cooper averaged 13.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.4 blocked shots, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals.
Said McDermott: “Katy needs to continue developing her ball-handling skills and post moves. She has a good shot from 12-15 feet. She needs to learn to use her body at the next level for blocking out and defensive positioning.
“She needs to continue working to improve all parts of her game,” McDermott said. “She cannot be satisfied.”
McDermott expects Cooper, whose dad Steve played football at Missouri Southern, to key a successful 2009-10 campaign. There are two more senior starters for the Patriots in Lindsey Bragg (10.1 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.71 spg) and Raeshele Dollar (6.9 ppg, 2.6 apg).
Cooper, unsure of a major at PSU, was a four-year regular in volleyball under Todd Dana.
Dana said that Cooper is the second of four sisters in East Newton athletics. Shyann graduated in 2008. But Sha is a sophomore and Koty a fifth-grader.
