Lady Storm brings experience to upcoming season

The SCC Lady Storm will benefit from a wealth of experience as they prepare for the upcoming season.

The team will feature six returning sophomores and two transfers to go along with a group of freshman that Head Coach Vicki Wooton calls “solid.”

“Last year we were inexperienced because we didn’t have any returning sophomores,” the coach said.      “With (the) returners getting a lot of court time, we will be much improved.”

Southeast also picked up two sophomore transfers from Midland University in Kenae Merrit (Bennington) and Sierra Friedly (Pawnee City).

Wooton said freshman point guard Shanae Collins (Sibley, La.) has been making an impact in the preseason.

“(Collins) has been giving teams trouble with her intense defense, and on offense, she is quick, fast and strong and can break down any one, “Wooton said.

The coach said newcomers Ahlia Tai (Las Vegas, Nev.), Amber Joe (Jeanerette, La.), and Veshae Wilkinson (Hamilton, New Zealand) will add size and depth in the front court, while Grace Green (Henderson, Nev.) will bolster the guard position.

Perhaps the biggest recruiting coup was Dionne Martin’s decision to come back after briefly leaving the team.

“Martin was not planning on coming back because of financial reasons, “ Wooton explained. “We did offer her a scholarship, and she decided she wanted to look for a NJCAA Division l college.”

The coach said D2 teams like Southeast can only offer scholarships up to the amount of tuition, books, and fees.

“Dionne found a NJCAA D1 college that would give her a full ride, and she decided to take it,”Wooton said.

In the end, the appeal of playing in familiar surroundings caused a change of heart for Martin.

“Late in the summer, she decided that she did not want to change colleges and that she would be more comfortable with coming back to SCC with some of her teammates,” Wooton said.

Martin averaged eight points, six rebounds and two assists a game last year. She also holds the school record with most blocked shots in a game with nine.

“Having someone return with those stats that really want to be at SCC is huge,” Wooton exclaimed.

The team will open the season against the Concordia Junior Varsity in the Central Community College Classic on Saturday, Nov. 1. They will debut at home vs Neosho CC in the SCC Classic on Friday, Nov. 14.