Jimmies hope experience translates to success on the court
Oct. 26—JAMESTOWN — When the University of Jamestown steps foot on the hardwood at Harold Newman Arena to take on Mayville State University at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, it will be 246 days since the team's season ended in the GPAC Quarterfinals.
The Jimmies have loftier goals, including getting to the national tournament.
"Honestly, it's my last season here, so I'm gonna go out and have fun," senior guard Hannah DeMars said. "I'm gonna do whatever I can to make this season the best season and hopefully have a better outcome than last season."
That opinion was echoed and expanded on by sophomore guard Sarah Lenz, who said she is fueled by the loss in the GPAC Quarterfinals heading into this season.
"I think it definitely left a sour taste in our mouth," Lenz said. "Obviously, we didn't end the way we wanted to but it pushed us this summer in how we focus and the work we put in. It's been a big factor in this preseason too with just keeping that in mind and the finish that we want to have."
Jimmies head coach Thad Sankey, who is entering his fifth season at the helm, said he wants to see his team find its footing earlier in the season.
"We expect to play well, play together and have some success, and to do that, focusing on the process piece of finding our identity pretty early in the year is a pretty big focus for us," Sankey said.
The Jimmies lost three players and two coaches. After the departure of assistant coaches Ryan Carpenter and Chris Burks, Sankey hired Faith Brintle to be the lead assistant and Patrick Swenson as the graduate assistant.
"Faith has really adjusted to the assistant role for us and connected with our players well and she's got a great work ethic and just a good sense about her giving our staff what we need," Sankey said. "... Patrick has some good experience between coaching and being a manager in college. So that kind of depth of experience is a big plus for us."
DeMars is not the only senior on the roster as she is joined by Kia Tower and Macy Savela. Last year, all three finished in the top five in scoring for the Jimmies with DeMars leading the team with 15 points per game, followed by Tower who finished in a tie for second with since-graduated Noelle Josephson at 11.2 points per game, and Savela in fifth with 6 points per game.
"On our team, we have certain roles that we look for," Tower said. "We can say we have some girls that are more potential scorers than others, but also we all can score, but it depends on the night, what the defense is giving us. So, for me, my mindset is whatever it takes that night. If they need us to be scorers, I'm gonna try to be a scorer. If they need us to be distributors, I'll try to do that. Defenders, I'll do that. So, whatever it takes really."
Tower said she, DeMars and Savela are ready to take on a leadership role with the team.
Sankey said 12 of his players stayed over the summer to work out and practice together. During the offseason, DeMars said she worked on her mid-range game.
Last year the Jimmies and Comets played twice in the first four games of the season, with the Jimmies winning the first game 76-74 and losing the second contest 66-63.
"They have a really experienced team, they have a great group of returners," Sankey said. " We're looking forward to the competition that they have. We played two really close games with them, and for us, it's a chance for our girls to not just kick off the season but to compete against a good team."
