January 10, 2010
Heather Sheppard knows that nothing is guaranteed when it comes to life in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference.
The 6-foot-4 sophomore post for Midland College also knows that in order to succeed in this conference, the team must navigate through the potential pitfalls and understand that every team will have its sights set on beating the No. 8-ranked Lady Chaparrals.
“I told (the younger players) that everybody is going to be coming after us, so we better be prepared,” Sheppard said. “Everybody is going to give us their best shot. I don’t think you can ever be comfortable in conference, because everybody is going to be coming after you.”
Sheppard certainly expects that at 5:45 p.m. today when Midland College (16-2) travels to Borger to face Frank Phillips College (12-2) in the WJCAC opener.
Sheppard is one of four sophomores on this year’s team who hopes to have a season to remember as once again the Lady Chaps have some lofty goals this season that go beyond conference play.
“We want to finish the season stronger than we did last year,” she said. “We want to go to nationals and win nationals.”
Sheppard is expected to play a integral role in the Lady Chaps’ quest to getting to the national tournament. Going into tonight, the Coahoma product is the team’s leading rebounder, averaging 6.4 boards per game. She’s also averaging 5.0 points per game but knows that statistic could improve.
“I’ve improved since last year but I still need to work on finishing my shot and just playing consistent,” Sheppard said. “It’s a lot faster game. I’m not the biggest girl anymore.”
While at Coahoma, Sheppard could use her size to dominate Class 2A competition. She was also crucial in leading the Bulldogettes to a 29-6 record and a trip to the regional quarterfinals during the 2007-08 season.
During her first year at MC, Sheppard worked on making the transition to the college level and playing against faster and bigger athletes. Head coach Ron Jones said he’s seen her improve from her freshman year.
“She’s doing a real solid job on the boards and defensively she’s doing really good,” Jones said. “The only thing we need to get her doing, and she knows this, is just finishing more consistently around the basket. I think it’s more of a mental thing than ability.”
Sheppard seems to have the attitude to keep on improving as the season, plus is helps that she’s having fun this season and has the extra perk of being less than an hour’s drive from home. She admits that a home cooked meal every now and then is good to have.
But home cooked meals will only satisfy Sheppard so much. She wants to make sure the Lady Chaps have another successful run in the WJCAC and then a successful run in the postseason. Sheppard would also love to erase memories of a regional semifinal upset loss to Odessa College last season.
“It meant a lot to us last year but it means more to us sophomores this year, so we want to do whatever it takes to have a great season,” she said. “(Today) I know Frank Phillips is going to give us their best shot, so we have to play our best game.”
NO.8 MIDLAND COLLEGE AT FRANK PHILLIPS COLLEGE
When/Where: 5:45 p.m., Borger Community Activity Center, Borger
Records: Midland College 16-2 overall, 0-0 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference; Frank Phillips 12-2, 0-0
Notes & quotes: Midland College is 3-1 since coming back from Christmas break, with the only loss coming to No. 15 Angelina College (56-45). MC also played those four games in a five-day span. “I thought our energy was OK,” MC coach Ron Jones said. “I thought we were a little sloppy but that’s kind of expected after being off for a little while.” ...Jones still believes that this team could be one of the better teams defensively in the nation. MC is ranked No. 16 in the nation in defense, giving up an average of 54.7 points per game. “I think we’re pretty good right now but I think we can get a lot better,” Jones said. “The main thing is that we’re seeing things a little bit late and we’re still having to help too much and that makes us give up some offensive rebounds.” ...FPC is coming into tonight’s game with five consecutive victories. “There are four teams in the conference that have definitely improved: Frank Phillips, Odessa, Howard and New Mexico from what they were last year,” Jones said. “I know (the Lady Plainsmen are) going to be primed and ready for us.”
Next: South Plains College at Midland College, 5:45 p.m. Thursday; Frank Phillips at Western Texas College, 5:45 p.m. Thursday
Midland College women’s statistics
(16-2, 0-0)
Player GP FG FT FTA Pts. Avg. Reb. RPG
Lauren Mansfield 14 65 38 52 189 13.5 74 5.3
Jessi Cowden 13 37 5 10 101 7.8 24 1.8
Robnesha Brigham 14 36 19 27 108 7.7 42 3.0
Brittany Wilson 14 39 17 33 107 7.6 51 3.6
Erika Warren 11 30 17 22 78 7.1 27 2.5
*Shaquiri Graham 13 39 11 22 91 7.0 69 5.3
Adrie Shiels 9 20 8 17 51 5.7 34 3.8
Titania Simmons 14 22 15 21 76 5.4 22 1.6
Tanica Anderson 14 19 28 35 73 5.2 44 3.1
*Tatiana Haynes 9 19 4 7 47 5.2 19 2.1
Heather Sheppard 14 32 6 14 70 5.0 90 6.4
Patricia Bright 14 27 7 11 61 4.4 74 5.3
Miriam Seale 11 12 5 12 29 2.6 32 2.9
Alexis Hewitt 14 8 4 6 20 1.4 39 2.8
Totals 14 405 184 289 1,101 78.6 714 51.0
3-point goals (107) -- Cowden 22, Mansfield 21, Simmons 17, Brigham 17, Wilson 12, Anderson 7, Haynes 5, Shiels 3, Graham 2, Warren 1
*no longer with team
Women’s WJCAC standings
Conference Overall
W L W L
Odessa College 0 0 16 1
Howard College 0 0 14 1
Midland College 0 0 16 2
Frank Phillips 0 0 12 2
Western Texas 0 0 9 5
South Plains 0 0 9 6
New Mexico JC 0 0 8 8
Monday’s Games
Midland College at Frank Phillips College; Western Texas College at Odessa College; Howard College at South Plains; New Mexico JC at Clarendon College (non-conference)