Indians return key members of district runner-up team

JACKSON, Mo. -- With standout senior Jenna Leet and a strong supporting cast leading the way, Jackson girls' coach Ron Cook said he's excited about his team's prospects for the coming season.

The Indians went 18-9 last year, losing to Poplar Bluff in the district finals. The Mules went on to finish third in the state.

Leet and several other key returning players figure to help lead Jackson to continued success under Cook, who is 422-134 in 21 seasons with the Indian. Jackson has reached the state semifinals in five of the past nine years.

"We have a lot of experience and I feel good about the season," Cook said. "Last year we were physically weak but all our players have gotten stronger over the summer. Most of them played a lot over the summer and have improved.

"I don't know what kind of record we'll have at the end because we have a tougher schedule than in the past. But I like our team."

It all starts with Leet, a 6-foot senior forward-guard be entering her fourth season as a starter. Leet, who has signed to play for Division I SMU, averaged 18 points and seven rebounds per game last year to make second-team all-state and first-team all-region. She shot 92 percent from the free-throw line and 42 percent from 3-point range.

"Jenna has had great career and she'll be a real leader for us," Cook said. "She's definitely one of the top players I've had. She comes from a basketball family and she puts a lot of time into it."

Whitney Werner, a 5-10 senior, will also be in her fourth season as a starter. She averaged about eight points per game last year.

Ashley Bartels, a 5-10 junior, is entering her third season in the starting lineup. She averaged about seven points per game last year and made the all-region second team.

Yet another returning regular is 5-2 junior point guard Katie Loos, who broke into the starting lineup toward the end of last season.

Still more experience returns in the form of three seniors who all saw considerable action last year: 5-9 Courtney Stanfield, 5-9 Kristen Howard and 5-10 Jessie Koeper.

Cook will look for plenty of production and leadership from his senior class.

"Last year we had a little trouble with leadership. Nobody surfaced," Cook said. "This year I feel like our seniors will really show leadership and take control of it. You have to have that."

Also battling for playing time will be five juniors who primarily saw junior varsity action a year ago: 5-8 Linden Hahs, who was called up the varsity toward the end of last season, 5-7 Jennifer Ferrell, 6-foot Maria Oehl, 6-foot Danielle King and 5-9 Abby Weinrich.

"Everybody is working hard and we seem to have good chemistry," Cook said. "That's always important."

The Indians face their usual rugged schedule that not only features Southeast Missouri's best teams but also top squads from the St. Louis area.

"Just in our district, Poplar Bluff lost a lot of girls but they'll be tough as the season goes on and Central is going to be good. Notre Dame will be good, even though they lost key players," Cook said. "We play a tough schedule, but it should help us get ready for the end of the season."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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