14-win squad has shot at conference title

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

With 14 wins and seven games left on the regular-season slate, the Southwest girls basketball team is setting its sights on a conference title and making some noise in a district with two more teams with as many wins.

Shawn Johnson, Southwest girls basketball coach, said steady growth and balanced contributions have helped his team put together a strong season — on a seven game win streak as of Monday and having just won the Lady Bear Classic title. He said one of the biggest factors has been the play of his leading scorer and rebounder.

“You have [senior] Jaretsi [Quintanilla] — that does help us a little bit,” Johnson said. “She’s averaging around 27 points a game and around 14 rebounds, and she’s getting around 6 blocks a game, so that helps us a lot.”

Johnson said another positive this season has been the team’s balance beyond its leading scorer.

“It’s been nice because you don’t really know who’s going to put up 10-15 points on a given night,” Johnson said. “We’ve had all four of the other starters do that at different times. Gracie [Swanepoel] put up 10 against Sarcoxie, Addyson [Payne] put up 13, Olivia [Hnem] hit some threes and put up 15, and Sidney [Roe] had 13 against Verona,” he n said.

That kind of production has been encouraging.

“It’s been great to see different kids step up,” Johnson said. “We’re starting to shoot better, and if we can time it right going into districts, it’ll be interesting to see.”

Johnson said the team has also made progress shooting from the outside, which has changed how opponents defend Southwest.

“We’ve started to hit shots on the outside where our 3s are starting to fall,” Johnson said. “We’re actually averaging probably about five threes a game, which is a big difference from last year.”

Johnson said that improvement has opened things up offensively.

“At the beginning of the year, it was kind of like we’d shoot a three and let them make a three, but now we’re shooting threes and making some,” Johnson said. “That helps open up a little on the inside for us.”

As the season enters the conference and district portion, Johnson said there are still areas the team is working to improve.

“Press offense,” Johnson said. “That was a big key, especially when we lost to Pierce City.”

Johnson said that game, a 67-38 loss, showed where the team needs to grow.

“We were only down 1 at halftime, and then they came out in the third quarter and we turned it over too much,” he said. “That’s something we have to work on.”

Johnson said continuing to improve against pressure will also be important.

“If we can handle that, we can play with some people,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the team has seven games remaining, including SouthWest Central League conference matchups.

“There are three conference games,” Johnson said. “We’ve got Purdy, Blue Eye and Galena. Our conference starts Friday in Galena. We do have a makeup game on Feb. 16.”

Johnson said the team is also hoping to add another game before districts.

“We’re looking to get the East Newton game rescheduled,” Johnson said. “That would be a good game and a good test before districts.”

Johnson said district play will include strong competition.

“Ash Grove just beat Pierce City by 11,” he said. “Ash Grove is probably the team to beat right now.”

Johnson said Southwest’s regular-season results could help with seeding.

“We’ve already beaten Sarcoxie and Diamond, so I’m hoping we get the three seed,” he said. “That would be nice.”

Preparing for stronger opponents has been a focus in practice, Johnson said.

“That makes it challenging for us,” Johnson said. “We get seven or eight kids out there to press us. That makes it harder for the girls to maneuver and pass. That’s how we prepare for teams like that.”

Johnson said conference play remains competitive.

“We do have a shot [at the conference championship],” he said. “[We play] Blue Eye is at their place, so that makes it a little tougher.”

Johnson said results against common opponents suggest close games.

“It looks like a winnable game,” he said. “But, it is also on the road, and sometimes that makes a difference.”

he Lady Trojans played Wheaton on the road on Tuesday and travel to Galena on Friday. The Blue Eye matchup is on the road on Feb. 9.