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SportsNovember 30, 2002

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- After an 11-14 season, second-year Scott City girls' coach Mike Johnson has expectations that will probably exceed those many coaches in the area have for his Rams. "I think some people are going to be surprised with the turnaround I think we'll be able to make this year," Johnson said. "They might look at our record and not expect the type of team we'll be able put on the floor."...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- After an 11-14 season, second-year Scott City girls' coach Mike Johnson has expectations that will probably exceed those many coaches in the area have for his Rams.

"I think some people are going to be surprised with the turnaround I think we'll be able to make this year," Johnson said. "They might look at our record and not expect the type of team we'll be able put on the floor."

It will be no surprise that the Rams possess one of the top players in the area in junior Loren Groves, who has established herself as one of the premier athletes in the state.

The 5-foot-10 forward/center is a rare combination of power and speed, which she demonstrated at the Class 2 state track meet the past two seasons, gathering eight all-state awards. It's not often an athlete can place second at state in both the 100 hurdles and discus. She was also third in the shot put and fifth in the 300 hurdles.

She averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds last season.

"Loren's going be Loren," Johnson said. "She keeps getting better every year. She's an extremely hard worker and is in the gym all the time. On the same note, we had several others in the gym all summer and really improved their game."

One of the best things about Groves is that she is just one of five returning starters.

The Rams also have a four-year returning starter in senior point guard Jenny Pinkston (5-6) and two-year starters in seniors Audrey Heisserer (forward, 5-7), Amber Sample (guard, 5-6) and Kristen Schaeffer (forward, 5-7).

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Senior Rachel Spinks, a 6-foot forward/center, also returns to Scott City for her senior year after transferring to Central as a junior. Junior guard Amanda Raines (5-5), who lettered last season while recovering from a knee injury, is the Rams' best pure shooter.

With just seven players on the varsity, the Rams will not have much depth.

"But all seven of the varsity players are possible starters," Johnson said. "There really are no weak links out of those seven."

Scott City bolstered last year's experience by attending camps at Southeast Missouri State University and Missouri, where players coupled instruction with about 20 games of playing experience.

"They put in a lot of work," Johnson said. "The main thing this summer is they came together as a team and got a feel for each other on basketball floor and gained lot of confidence."

Scott City was eliminated in the Class 2, District 2 semifinals last year by eventual state champion Notre Dame. The Rams won't have to deal with that road block any longer with Notre Dame getting bumped up to Class 3.

"That's a good motivator," Johnson said. "That leaves the district wide open right now."

jbreer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 124

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