By Chris Parker
McDonald County girls basketball has a new head coach who is a familiar name in the area in Brad Shorter. Shorter has a career record of 485-134 and has won 17 district titles, made eight final fours and won two state championships with stops at Carl Junction, Webb City and Lockwood.
He hopes to bring the McDonald County girls basketball program back to the prominence of the 1980s when the Mustangs won two state titles and made four final fours from 1980-87.
“McDonald County has had some tradition in the past,” Shorter said. “In the 80s they made multiple final four runs. The challenge is to bring back that tradition.”
This year’s team brings back three all-conference players from a 13-win team.
“We have the potential to be solid,” Shorter said. “We are deficient in some fundamental areas that can absolutely be addressed.”
Carlie Martin and Dakota O’Brien each earned first-team all-conference honors.
Martin, a senior, will play all over the court. She averaged 11.6 points, 4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 4 steals per game last season.
“Experience means so much in basketball, especially late in the season. With Carlie having quality experience we will look to her for leadership,” Shorter said. “Her length and anticipation make her a quality defender. She has played the game for a long time and in turn has become an instinctually great player.”
O’Brien, a junior, will play forward or center positions. She led the team with 21.9 points per game with 10.5 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game.
“Dakota works very hard and competes at a high level,” Shorter said. “I expect her to do the same in a completely new and different system.”
Jamie Washam earned second-team all-conference honors as a junior. Washam also averaged a double-double with 11.6 points and a team-high 11.3 rebounds per game.
“Jamie is a very athletic player that can do multiple things for our team,” Shorter said. “We will rely on her to play the guard position and bring the ball up, as well as score from the outside. She has a good ability to get to the rim.”
Tatym Trudeau (senior guard), Kearston Hopkins (junior guard), Layla Wallain (senior guard), Vanessa Zamora (junior forward) and Jada Howard (junior guard/forward) all have seen varying levels of varsity action in their careers.
Shorter on Trudeau: “Tatym Trudeau will be a shooter for us.”
Shorter on Hopkins: “Kearston Hopkins plays great defense and can handle the ball well. (She) shoots it well, too”
Shorter on Wallain: “Layla Wallain can shoot it well and adds a lot of length to our team.”
Shorter on Zamora: “Vanessa Zamora (is a) great team player that may be the glue to this group.”
Shorter on Howard: “Jada Howard (is a) great athlete that is very strong and plays extremely hard. Jada may be our lock up defender.”
The sophomore class is deep with newcomers including Rayne Knox (guard), Cami Washam (guard), Kamryn Christie (guard), Peyton Patterson (guard), Brionna Ziemianin (guard), Maelee Clark and Fallon Freeman (guard).
Shorter on Knox: “Rayne Knox (is a) very hard worker that is quick and athletic. She will challenge some kids for varsity minutes.”
Shorter on Washam: “Cami has been working hard in the off-season, and I love her progression. She will challenge for some varsity minutes.”
Shorter on Christie & Patterson: “Kam and Peyton had great softball seasons, and I look forward to seeing them match that on the court.”
Shorter on Ziemianin: “Bri is a very athletic player that will be able to give us great minutes this year. I love her speed, athleticism, and work ethic.”
Shorter on Clark: “Maelee had a really good summer and I am excited to see what she can do on the court.”
Shorter on Freeman: “Fallon had a good summer and is an athletic guard that will compete for minutes.”
McDonald County will use its length to its advantage this season.
“Our overall team length is pretty good this year,” Shorter said. “We hope that it will help us on both sides of the ball.”
McDonald County kicks off the season at Gravette (Ark.) on Nov. 25.
“I have always felt McDonald County kids work extremely hard,” Shorter said. “I am excited about that and the challenge to try and move McDonald County back to prominence.”
