No Justice for womenâs hoops

By Michael BeDan
The Metropolitan

The sun rises in the east.

Taxes are due April 15.

You will die.

And the Metro womenâs basketball team wins more than it loses. Usually a lot more.

With the 1997 campaign kicking off Nov. 14 at the West Texas A&M Invitational, the Roadrunners begin another season of self-imposed high expectations. And despite being dealt two stunning helpings of adversity before the season begins, Metro coach Darryl Smith canât think of any reason his team wonât live up to its own standard.

ãWinning basketball games is last on the list of what I think is important for these kids,ä Smith said. ãAnd I know thatâs why we win.ä

Smith will have to impart his unique brand of coaching on a team missing one of its stars and another projected star

as senior Shiloh Justice and junior Nicole Davis will miss the season and redshirt due to injuries.

Justice, who is out with a bulging disk in her back, led last yearâs team in scoring in 12 of 27 games and in rebounding 16 times. Davis, a Division I transfer from Idaho State, tore an anterior cruciate knee ligament and is out for the year after undergoing surgery Oct. 17.

ãThatâs part of the game, and you just have to deal with it,ä Smith said. ãI feel bad for the kids, not for myself.ä

In the meantime, it will be up to last yearâs youthful cast to mix with four newcomers emphasizing defensive pressure and transition baskets. Stephanie Allen, sensational as a

freshman, will return at point guard and might see extended action at shooting guard. Allen finished tied with Justice for the team lead in scoring last year at 15.4 points per game, led the Roadrunners with 4.6 assists per game and was the only player to start all 27 games for Metro.

As if that wasnât enough, the 5-foot-6-inch sophomore said sheâs a new player in 1997.

ãIâve changed a lot, matured and stepped up a level,ä Allen said. ãI learned not to be so timid and scared of the coach. Now I just play.ä

Smith concurs.

ãSheâs really matured,ä Smith said. ãSheâs a tough kid. By the time sheâs a senior, sheâs going to be incredible, but I want her to play like a senior this year.ä

And itâs with high expectations and what is often misconstrued as an overbearing demeanor that Smith continues to get results. The cast of newbies Smith fashioned into a 20-7 team last year expect to take it a step further this year.

Farrah Magee, a 5-11 senior forward, along with 6-2 senior center Michelle Stremel, will have to make up for the absence of Justice in the paint if the Roadrunners are to improve on last seasonâs first

round Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference loss to Fort Hays State. Smith plans to give Stremel, 5-11 sophomore Kristen Weilder and 6-0 sophomore Heidi Lake plenty of playing time at center and said all must contribute.

ãThose three right there will be the key to our season,ä Smith said. ãWeâve gone to a single-post offense because we are so small. People are going to play over the top of us regardless of how hard we play.ä

Stremel is athletic at 6-2 and can get out on the break. She said sheâs not intimidated at the prospect of filling Justiceâs role at rebounder and said her role is not to replace Justice as much as it is to rely on her own strength ÷ speed.

ãI canât replace (Justice),ä Stremel said. ãShiloh is a very intense and aggressive person. I donât see it as a lot on my shoulders as much as just stepping up.ä

The Roadrunners enter their second season in the RMAC (Metro previously was a member of the defunct Colorado Athletic Conference) and like last year, will be looking to get past conference powerhouse Nebraska-Kearney. The Lopers dominated Metro in both meetings and Smith said even without Justice and Davis the Roadrunners expect different results this time around.

ãKearney manhandled us, and nobody has ever manhandled us,ä Smith said. ãThatâs got to change this year.
ãWe understand the only way (to get into the NCAA Division II tournament) is to win our conference tournament, and thatâs what weâre shooting for. Kearney is better than us but that doesnât mean they are going to beat us this year. I know that.ä

Metroâs home opener is Nov. 22 against Barry University at 5 p.m.