Bulldog cagers picked in upper division

McPherson College women's basketball coach Mel Wright addresses the media Tuesday in Wichita.

By STEVE SELL, Sentinel Sports Editor

WICHITA -- If the preseason polls are any indication, it should be a good year for the McPherson College basketball teams.

The Mac men were picked fourth and fifth in the 10-team KCAC Tuesday by the coaches and media respectively at the annual Media Day.

The Mac women were picked fifth in both polls.

Roger Trimmell, dean of the KCAC coaches as he starts his 21st year, saw his Mac men get off to a 9-2 start last year and rose as high as 16th in the national rankings.

But a passel of close losses -- eight by five points or less for the season -- left the Bulldogs with a 14-15 record, 6-12 in the KCAC.

The reason for optimism for the Bulldogs is that four starters return, including top scorer Kenny Romero (19.8 points, 7.2 rebounds), Roy McDonald (12.6, 3.8 assists) and Jose Morales (14.0, 3.7 rebounds). Also back is Brian Hooks, who came on strong last year and has been a terror in the preseason, and Michael Perez, who was one of the KCAC's top freshmen two years ago, but sat out last year as a medical redshirt.

Trimmell also had a good recruiting year, highlighted by first-team All-Stater Jamaal Norris of Hutchinson, who Trimmell said is challenging for a starting spot.

The Mac women of Mel Wright, coming off their best season in 20 years, have four starters back from a team that was 17-10, 12-6 in the KCAC.

Erica Alvarez was the second-leading scorer in the KCAC at 17.9, and she'll be joined by Sharla Odhams (10.7, 4.0 assists), Amber Jackson (8.1) and Amy Gremmer (8.4, but out with an injury so far this season).

Crystal Richardson and Tiffany Conway came on strong at the end of last year, and both are back. And Wright is especially high on twins Nidia and Nivia Garcia, two juco transfers who may be hard to keep out of the lineup.

There will be two McPherson players on the roster, Ashley Kline and Amy George. Kline played on MHS' highly successful program, while George returns to action after an extensive break.

Bethany's women were second, as third-year coach Trent May returns his top six players from last year's team that won 26 games. Sterling, led by McPherson High graduate Kristina Barrow -- a first-team All-American last year -- drew the top spot.

Leading the way for Bethany will be Jodi Strathman, perhaps the only challenger to Barrow in the KCAC Player of the Year race. May said his four-year standout has shown great leadership in practice and is primed for a big year.

For the men, Ottawa and Tabor were picked 1-2 in both polls by a relatively wide margin.

Bethany was picked sixth in both polls, but did get a first-place vote from the coaches after a 13-15 season. Dustin Hildebrand, who may lead the KCAC in scoring, is an explosive guard for coach Clair Oleen.