By Rick Mauch

"Defending conference tournament champions" has a nice ring to it, especially if you ask 11 basketball players at Weatherford College.

That's how many returners the Lady Coyotes have back from last season's 16-8 squad that came within a three-point basket of advancing to the NJCAA Tournament following a magical postseason ride. With that experience, it's understandable that they want and expect more in the 2021-22 season.

Legendary Lady Coyotes coach Bob McKinley's team entered the postseason with a 13-7 record and a 9-7 record in the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference. They were stumbling as the regular season ended, having dropped three of their final four and six of their last 10.

Then came the unexpected-well, perhaps not for the Lady Coyotes. They dismantled Temple 88-65, upset Hill 75-71 and held off Grayson 91-89 to win the NTJCAC Tournament. Though the magic ran out in the Region V championship game, they proved they belonged, falling 74-72 to South Plains.

As a result of that success, the Lady Coyotes enter the season ranked No. 15 in the nation. McKinley's been there plenty of times and realizes that is just a number and that the team will have to prove its rank on the court—which he expects them to do.

"We are ranked No. 15 in the nation in preseason polls, which has kind of put a target on our backs, but none of that matters. We work on the things that make us better and the rest will play out just right," he said.

Assistant coach Brittnie Haley said the team's chemistry should pay off this year.

"The best thing we have going for us is our three returners that will be playing together for three years now, and the rest of the team—with the exception of three-have been playing together for two," Haley said. "If we continue to build on the things we already know and work on our weaknesses, we should be very successful this season."

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NJCAA allowed an extra season of eligibility for college athletes. This meant a third season with their respective teams if they chose.

The three "anchors" among the returners are sophomores Adela Valkova (6-foot-2-inch forward), Diamond Sweats (6-foot shooting guard) and Jasmyne Robinson (5-7 shooting guard). Robinson (17.3 points per game, 3.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 4.0 steals) and Sweats (15.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.2 blocks) were both named all-conference and all-region. Valkova (13.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 2.1 blocks) was an honorable mention all-conference selection.

Two other returning Lady Coyotes garnered postseason accolades. Sophomores Briarley Rogers (5-9 shooting guard, 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists) and Zamoria McGrue (5-6 point guard, 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists) were honorable mention all-conference.

Other sophomores for the Lady Coyotes include Ksenija Djokic (6-1 forward), Celise Bobbitt (5-10 shooting guard), Ugne Pranculyte (6-4 post), Adreanna Waddle (6-2 post), Kyra Lucero (5-2 shooting guard) and Shomyra Francis (5-9 shooting guard).

Freshmen are Hena Spahic (5-4 point guard), Helena Svilberg (6-0 forward), Kylee Eckerman (5-7 guard) and Mikayla Green (5-4 shooting guard).

Not only are McKinley, Haley and the players anxious to get the 2021-22 season underway, they, like most other teams, are ready for a return to a normal schedule. Last season didn't begin until January and featured fewer games.

"It was really hard last season not playing the first semester and keeping the players motivated to practice without games," Haley said. "This year, we've already had two JUCO Showcases and can work on things we see in those scrimmages to help us now and down the road. I mean, who doesn't love playing?"

As for the teams to beat in the conference and region, McKinley said they are the same as usual, including his squad, Hill, Grayson, Collin, McLennan and Temple.

When asked about his own team's greatest strength, he credited their intelligence and, again, chemistry.

"These ladies have built something special over the last season," he said. "With our season ending in the regional championship game, we feel that if we work just a little harder, practice just a little harder, and, again, work on our weaknesses—we are a hard team to beat."