Women's Basketball No. 12
"We have the chemistry" says McKean
Gavin Dow
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Sports
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The Cobras are led by first-year head coach Carrie Redeker, who is earning praise from colleagues and players for her team's success. Sophomore Ashley Lillard said that half of the team's success is owed to its talented players, but the other half belongs to Redeker. "She knows the game of basketball," Lillard said.
Lillard is one of the major stories of the season. The 5'9" forward from Danville has already been named the NJCAA's player of the week twice, and after a 13-for-15 performance from the field on Saturday, it's clear that she's gunning for a third. She leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.0 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, and has thirteen double-doubles on the season.
"She's been playing very inspired," said Redeker. "She's kind of our leader on defense. She can wreak a lot of havoc with her athletic ability and speed."
Assistant coach Chuck Clutts says that she's playing at another level. "Watch how quick she moves when she gets the ball," he said.
Lillard's stellar play has earned her a nickname among her teammates: the Beast.
The Cobras' strength comes from a dedication to team play. "We have a lot of talented girls, but they're very unselfish," said Redeker. "They'll make the extra pass, they'll pass up the good shot for them to get a great shot for a teammate. They understand that makes us harder to defend." Watching the Cobras on offense is like watching a pinball machine in action, as they snap passes at each other all around the perimeter, looking for an opening.
The frenetic pace that the Cobras play with means that they have to rely on their bench. "Our bench has been really key for us," said Redeker. "At the pace that we play, we can't play forty minutes." She believes that the players' athleticism and zeal creates opportunities for scoring, particularly in transition. "We have a lot of success when we reverse the ball, whether it's against a zone or a man. Transition has definitely been a key for us, just getting the ball out and running."
Such success can be hard to find for a first-year coach, and a lot of it is due to Redeker's efforts in recruiting last spring. "For a first-year coach, she brought together tremendously talented players," said Clutts. "The ladies are very athletic," he added.
Redeker places credit for their outstanding performance squarely on the shoulders of the players. "They're just working hard, and playing well together," she said.
The Cobras play extremely well together, with every player stepping up and filling the role that they are asked to. "Our heart, and our intensity, and the connection we have on the court" all play a role in making the team better, according to Lillard.
"We have the chemistry," said freshman point guard Heidi McKean.
The Cobras are in second place in the Mid-West Athletic Conference, behind No. 2 Lewis & Clark, which was the last team to beat them before their winning streak started. In that game, the Cobras stayed tight with the Trailblazers until the final minutes when, according to Clutts, "[Lewis & Clark] just went into another gear."
Lillard thinks that they can beat Lewis & Clark when they visit Parkland on February 16, and Clutts agrees. "If we play a hard game, we can play with anybody. We've proven that," he said.
The outlook for the remainder of the season is bright. "Our girls are learning every day," said Clutts.
"We want to finish with a bang," said Redeker.
Their success is starting to show up in attendance figures. "We get more than the men sometimes," McKean joked.
Coach Clutts encouraged students to come out to see the Cobras in action: "It's an exciting game to watch."
Parkland hosts Robert Morris at 5:30 on January 30, and Shawnee Community College at 5:30 on February 6.
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