Sports Editor
While Peregrine coach Tom Megyesi sat through 16 games in two days in Sioux City, Iowa two weeks ago watching the women's NAIA Division II national tournament, he quickly observed how to change his team's fortunes around.
"I instantly took notice that it's a 3-point shooting league. I noticed that rarely did teams have anyone over six feet tall. The majority of the rosters were all 3-point shooters and they were the teams that were the most successful," he said.
Turning over the basketball, lack of depth and poor shooting (39 percent from the field) proved to be the downfall this season as their record stood at 7-24 overall and 3-7 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Peregrines' lack of depth was a major constraint throughout the season as only seven players finished the season healthy enough to play.
"We played our last 14 games with seven kids," Megyesi said. "In a way we survived. We're going to learn and hopefully have healthier players next year."
Gone will be seniors Linsey Smith and Shannon Dugan. Smith finished the season as the leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game, while connecting on 64 3-pointers.
The rebuilding Peregrines will return 66 percent of their scoring, which includes freshman guards Jamesha Harris (12.2 ppg) and Chrissy Lobodinski (9.4 ppg) and sophomore forward Sara Keilman (8.5 ppg).
"Realistically, I hope to be .500 next year," Megyesi said. "It's going to take time for us to get the proper mix to be competitive at the national tournament level."
Hoping to add to the mix are incoming recruits - Nicci Desimone, a guard from Elkhart Memorial High School and Stephanie Beck, a guard from Mishawaka High School.
"These kids are gems. They're both excellent fundamental shooters and happen to be good friends," Megyesi said.
Being accustomed to basketball in the area as a high school coach helped him find the new players.
"This is my area and I want to get Lake County and Porter County kids first, but I will go as far as I have to go to bring in the talent."
Learning and tweaking his system after the disappointing year, Megyesi will divide the six full scholarships that are allowed at the NAIA Division II level.
The Peregrines began the off-season workout program, which includes weight training and shooting on Tuesday.
The off-season will involve a higher accountability taking caring of the basketball. The Peregrines turned the ball over 23 times per game.
"I think I'm going to have to give consequences if we are careless with the ball in practice and hopefully that will carry into games," Megyesi said.
"I instantly took notice that it's a 3-point shooting league. I noticed that rarely did teams have anyone over six feet tall. The majority of the rosters were all 3-point shooters and they were the teams that were the most successful," he said.
Turning over the basketball, lack of depth and poor shooting (39 percent from the field) proved to be the downfall this season as their record stood at 7-24 overall and 3-7 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Peregrines' lack of depth was a major constraint throughout the season as only seven players finished the season healthy enough to play.
"We played our last 14 games with seven kids," Megyesi said. "In a way we survived. We're going to learn and hopefully have healthier players next year."
Gone will be seniors Linsey Smith and Shannon Dugan. Smith finished the season as the leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game, while connecting on 64 3-pointers.
The rebuilding Peregrines will return 66 percent of their scoring, which includes freshman guards Jamesha Harris (12.2 ppg) and Chrissy Lobodinski (9.4 ppg) and sophomore forward Sara Keilman (8.5 ppg).
"Realistically, I hope to be .500 next year," Megyesi said. "It's going to take time for us to get the proper mix to be competitive at the national tournament level."
Hoping to add to the mix are incoming recruits - Nicci Desimone, a guard from Elkhart Memorial High School and Stephanie Beck, a guard from Mishawaka High School.
"These kids are gems. They're both excellent fundamental shooters and happen to be good friends," Megyesi said.
Being accustomed to basketball in the area as a high school coach helped him find the new players.
"This is my area and I want to get Lake County and Porter County kids first, but I will go as far as I have to go to bring in the talent."
Learning and tweaking his system after the disappointing year, Megyesi will divide the six full scholarships that are allowed at the NAIA Division II level.
The Peregrines began the off-season workout program, which includes weight training and shooting on Tuesday.
The off-season will involve a higher accountability taking caring of the basketball. The Peregrines turned the ball over 23 times per game.
"I think I'm going to have to give consequences if we are careless with the ball in practice and hopefully that will carry into games," Megyesi said.
Published in the PUC Chronicle on March 24, 2008
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