Kelly girls basketball boasts experience, positivity in 206-17

Kelly's Marissa Jones is one of three seniors on the Hawks' roster this season.

Southeast Missourian file

Team outlook

Entering his 19th season as coach of the Kelly girls basketball team, Rod McQuerter believes strongly in the power of positivity.

Over the years, that mindset has brought his teams together, and with one starter gone from last season, that message remains true.

"We believe that your attitude dictates everything," McQuerter said. "If you have a positive attitude, play hard and play as a team, good things will happen."

The Hawks finished 7-14 a year ago and were led by Tori Duenne, who paced the team with 13 points and 2.5 assists per game. Duenne graduated, but Kelly returns five players who saw significant starting time last season.

McQuerter said he's been pleased with his team's cohesion leading up to the start of the season.

"The girls like being around each other," McQuerter said. "They eat lunch together. We go to SEMO games together. That's the most important thing -- what you do off the court. These girls seem to have a good time off the court, and it carries over on the court. They all have a great attitude. They're excellent students. What more can a coach ask for?"

Seniors Emmy Bolen, Anna Hughes and Marissa Jones will lead the Hawks this year, providing a core group of experience on the team's 14-player roster.

"It's been a joy watching these three young girls grow up into young women," McQuerter said. "That's the proudest thing I can say as a coach is that I've seen them grow from little girls into young women and good role models. To me, that's important.

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"They challenge each other every day, not only on the court, but also in the classrom. ... Basketball will come and go, but your academics and your education will be there forever."

Junior Hailey Noon and sophomore Lynsey Powers, who led the team with five rebounds per game last season, also return significant starting minutes from a year ago.

McQuerter said the team has been primarily focusing on fundamentals.

"They're trying to get better and trying to get the younger kids better. It helps practice go faster and be more energetic," McQuerter said. "These girls come to practice every single day with an attitude that some teams just can't compare to. I love working with them, and hopefully their attitude and their work ethic will carry over to the games."

Alyssa Tidwell, Mallory Urhahn, Lauren Wadlington, Jaci Crank, Taylor Crank, Anna Goering and Bryce Jarvis are also expected to contribute for Kelly. Rylee Crumley and Adison Musgrave are the team's lone freshmen, and McQuerter said he's seen them make big strides in becoming more competitive.

"We've just got to make them understand that there's a huge difference between a varsity game and a JV game," McQuerter said. "You have to be very patient with them. You have to be understanding. You have to bring them along very slowly, and they've been very patient and understanding. They've been very coachable during this time, and hopefully it will carry over to the games so that they can make that smooth transition from JV to varsity.

"They're very inquisitive. They're asking me questions. They're asking the older girls questions, and that's all you can ask from your younger kids."

Tools for success

Charleston eliminated Kelly in the opening round of last year's Class 3 District 2 tournament, handing the Hawks a 59-50 decision.

Kelly will compete in District 1 this season, joining Caruthersville, New Madrid County Central, Charleston, East Prairie, Kennett, Malden and Portageville.

On the court, McQuerter said he's trying to get his team geared toward giving valuing possessions and playing with tremendous effort. Off the court, however, the coach is preaching a more valuable life lesson.

"The first thing I stress to my girls is education," McQuerter said. "Education is the new currency in this world, and that's what I tell my girls every single day.

"Our main goal is for all three of our [senior] girls to graduate and to go to college and be successful young women. ... Xs and Os are very important, but I tell these girls that their education is the main thing. It's the reason why they're here. If you carry that same intensity and same effort from practice into games, it will carry over into your academic world and also your career that you plan to do later on in life."

CLASS 3 DISTRICT 1

Conference

Scott-Mississippi

Head coach

Rod McQuerter

(19th year)

ROSTER

STARTERS GONE

Tori Duenne

STARTERS BACK

Emmy Bolen

Anna Hughes

Hailey Noon

Lynsey Powers

Marissa Jones

SCHEDULE

LAST SEASON

RECORD

7-14

LEADERS

Points: Tori Duenne (13 ppg)

Rebounds: Lynsey Powers (5 rpg)

Assists: Duenne (2.5 apg)