Bravettes eager to be back in title hunt

MORLEY, Mo. -- After several sobering seasons, the Scott County Central girls, once a Class 1 dynasty, are slowly gathering themselves.

Two years ago, the seven-time state champions boarded up the doors early, forfeiting district tournament games because it could muster only four players.

Last year the Bravettes featured nine players and finished what they started in a 10-11 campaign.

With 16 girls practicing this season, Scott County Central will field a junior-varsity team for the first time in several years.

"We kind of had a shortage of girls, period, at the high school the last few years," coach Semona Penrod said.

The lean years may still leave an imprint on this year's team with a lack of experienced depth. In addition to no JV last year, Penrod said her team lost several close games that did not provide much playing time for the bench.

"A lot of them down there didn't get any experience," Penrod said. "I think that hurts you in the long run. But I'm excited to have a lot of kids, or at least more than what we have had."

The Bravettes do have four starters returning in sophomores Brittany Godwin (forward, 5-foot-8) and Janet Penrod (guard, 5-6) and juniors Jackie Monroe (forward, 5-8) and Jennifer Hoots (center, 5-7).

"I've been saying we're young the last couple years, but we still are in that category," Penrod said. "We were around .500 last year and I'm looking for a whole lot more this year."

Hoots, a three-year starter, averaged 16.5 points a game as a sophomore when she gained all-conference and all-region honors. Penrod's daughter, Janet, averaged 12 points as a freshman while taking care of the point-guard duties.

Senior Ladonna Lovel (5-6) and sophomore Ashley Laminack (5-4) return from last year and will be joined on the varsity by newcomers Christina Valenzuela (5-8), a senior, and juniors Katherine Johnson (5-10) and Shannon Britton (jr., 5-5).

The Bravettes will be battling a long-time problem with just one player topping 5-8.

"We're medium as far as quickness and athleticism," Penrod said. "But we have a good amount of intelligence. They've gained a lot of experience. They just have a different outlook."

Penrod said excitement surrounding the boys' team, under first-year coach Melvin Porter, has filtered its way into the girls' team. In past years, the teams spurred on each other in their state exploits. The teams have won state titles in the same year four times, the most recent coming in 1993, the last year either team won a title.

"The boys are excited and the girls are excited," Penrod said. "We're forming that bond again to want another one of those banners."

jbreer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 124