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Falcon basketball warms up nets for conference
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on Thursday, November 20, 2008 (CST)
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 By Jami Frantz, sports editor
The most unique thing about this year’s women’s basketball team isn’t its youth. It isn’t the amount of experience it has under its belt. It's that every game night, someone is able to step up, Head Coach Gayla Soyez said.
“A lot of different players are making plays,” Soyez said. “They are a good unit in that sense.”
And this team is finding a way to win even when things aren’t going well, and that’s a good sign of things to come, Soyez said. In past seasons, the Falcons have lost to some of the nonconference teams they have gone head to head with so far this season.
In the 62-56 Nov. 4 opener on the road, sophomore guard Ta'Vionna Polley-Davis had 20 points and 12 boards. In its 62-58 victory over Central Methodist University at the Southwestern Classic Nov. 7, senior point guard Megan VinZant put in 22 points. Freshman guard Katie Porter drained 27 points in the Falcons 78-34 smashing of Hillsdale Freewill Baptist at Southwestern Nov. 8.
The team lost to the hosting team 54-68 Nov. 14 at Central Methodist, but turned around to defeat Missouri Valley College 62-55 the next day at the tournament.
Friends had 16 offensive rebounds in its 62-58 victory over York College at home Nov. 18. Seven of those were snatched up by junior center/forward Michelle Price.
But the person who has pulled the team up by its boot straps the last several games has been freshman forward Breanne Selves, Soyez said.
“Bre came in [Tuesday] night and really ignited us,” Soyez said. “She played a really, really good game.”
Selves and sophomore guard Keley Porter have been filling freshman guard Katie Porter’s shoes for the time being, Soyez said.
Freshman post Abril Marshall will also add to the lineup soon, Soyez said, after getting over an injury.
Otherwise, Friends is led by VinZant, junior forward Mary Onelio, Price and Polley-Davis. The Falcon lineup includes only two seniors: VinZant and point guard/guard Abby Sorensen. VinZant, who averaged eight points and four assists per game, returns to lead the Falcons.
“If we didn’t have Megan, we would be lost (without her leadership),” Soyez said. VinZant has been an excellent “floor general,” which has helped the younger players, Soyez said.
“We are a young team, and that’s encouraging,” Soyez said.
Friends graduated senior guard Liz Barton as well as Ashlee Cooks, and lost Kristina Jones, who averaged 13.2 points and five rebounds per game. Barton, a Colorado State transfer, led the Falcons with 15.7 points per game. Between the two, Friends lost an average of almost 29 points per game, Soyez said.
But the team has “stepped up big to find a way to make the team successful” and has brought “a winning mentality back to the women’s basketball program,” Soyez said. This team also packs a lot of speed.
In some ways the conference is “ripe for the picking” this season, Soyez said. Sterling College will be the big force in the conference, but after Sterling it’s open and the Friends players know that, she said.
Last season, Friends lost to No. 3 McPherson 52-74 in the first round of the conference tournament Feb. 27. Friends finished sixth in the conference at 8-10 and 15-14 overall.
The Falcons aren’t shooting the ball as well for the type of shots they are getting, Soyez said. And right now the defense has to get more sound.
“The players know they have to get a lot better,” Soyez said.
The team has created a lot of great opportunities that it has missed, Soyez said. But they still end up pulling it off. If the team finishes what it starts, it could be a 15-18 point spread instead as little as four in single-digits.
So the Falcons will focus on being better by the time they are finished with the next few games before conference play begins. Each individual will work to improve. And they are willing to put time in, Soyez said.
Friends will play Oklahoma Wesleyan University this Saturday (Nov. 21) at 6 p.m., and Northwestern Oklahoma State University Nov. 22 at 4 p.m. at home. The Falcons go head-to-head with Baker University Nov. 25 at 7 p.m., also at home. The first conference match-up will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at home against Bethany College.
Soyez enters her seventh season with the Falcons.
Men’s team splits 2-2
In his sixth year at Friends, Head Coach Dale Faber’s Falcons are 2-2 overall after the team picked up an 83-55 win against St. Gregory’s College Nov. 8 at home, lost in double overtime to Southwest Assemblies of God Nov. 14 at the Bethel Classic and defeated York College 79-38 Nov. 18.
The Falcons opened with a 76-83 loss Nov. 4 against Oklahoma Wesleyan University on the road. The Falcons are set up for a rematch at 6 p.m. this Saturday (Nov. 22) at home.
Before Christmas break last season, the Falcons were 3-6 overall but went on to clench a second place finish at 12-6 in the conference, 19-11 overall. Friends was defeated 66-82 in the first round of the NAIA Division II National Championships March 12 against MidAmerica Nazarene. It was the Falcons’ third showing at Nationals in four years, with 2005 being the first appearance.
Up next, the men will take on Hastings College at 8 p.m. Nov. 21 followed by the OWU game Nov. 22. The Falcons tip off against Evangel College at 7 p.m. on the road before opening conference play at home Dec. 4 against Bethany College at 8 p.m.
Look for more extensive coverage of the men’s team in the next edition of The Crimson Chronicle.
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