Former Donette hooper adjusting to college game

Former Doniphan Donette McKenna Monaghan is one of two that were on the girls basketball roster for Adam Epps last season that are currently playing collegiately as Monaghan is suiting up for the Northern Arkansas Lady Pioneers.

Even though she was a standout during her high school days, Monaghan admitted she was a little nervous going to a new place.

“It was rough at first,” she said. “I think I’m starting to get the hang of it.”

Monaghan said she wasn’t comfortable in the early on. She didn’t want to go out and interact with others but one thing that helped Monaghan and has helped her get acclimated to the new scenery — basketball.

“Stepping out onto the court, it brings me back,” she said. “Brings me back home, back to high school and I just try to do my best.”

Her teammates at Northern Arkansas were also a help to Monaghan.

“It takes some time to get out of my shell,” she said. “They’re all great people and we all clicked. It definitely rook some time, it’s not something that came naturally which is weird because it is something that comes naturally to me … I’m comfortable. We all hang out outside of school and basketball.”

Growing up, Monaghan played multiple sports but it was basketball where she felt the most at peace but it was also where she got the most reaction from those around her.

“I liked hearing people saying you did so good after every game,” she said. “You kind of have fun. I do like this sport.”

It was during her senior year at Doniphan when Monaghan said she finally realized playing at the next level was not just something she thought she could do but something that was within her grasp.

“I had a really good senior year,” she said. “We won every tournament we played it.”

The Donettes logged 26 wins a year ago, the most in more than a decade for the program.

Doniphan�s McKenna Monaghan (left) posts up on Saxony Lutheran�s Evie Caruso during Saturday�s MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 girls basketball championship game at the Bearcat Event Center in Dexter.Steve Inman Photo

Monaghan said when it comes to what she needs to work on now, passing and driving the ball are two things she mentioned but she’s ready for the challenge.

In the season opener against Lyon JV, Monaghan had 13 points with six assists and four rebounds for the Lady Pioneers as the stand as 1-2 on the year.

Northern Arkansas heads to Neosha, Missouri, for the Crowder Classic where it will play a pair of games over two days before returning home for a matchup with Allen County on Nov. 21.