Jayhawk Coaches Expect Seward to Contend Once Again
After finishing as Jayhawk Conference runners-up in each of the past three seasons, the KJCCC coaches are picking the Seward County Lady Saints to contend for the conference crown once again in 2016-2017 after a league release shows the Lady Saints picked second in the coaches poll as announced by the conference on Monday.
The Lady Saints are coming off of a 25-8 season in which they finished 14-5 in Jayhawk Conference action, ending the year as runners-up in both the conference and then the Region VI Tournament. Seward returns a veteran group to the fold including six sophomores. Leading the sophomore group for Seward is 6'8 Joanna Grymek who was a 1st Team All-Conference performer as a freshman, averaging 13.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 60% from the field. Grymek has already committed to Oregon State, who played for the National Championship last season, for 2017-2018. Joining Grymek in the front court is NJCAA All-Star Clitan de Sousa. Fans will see an improved version of de Sousa this season after the southpaw averaged 8.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game a year ago. Along with the six Seward sophomores, the Lady Saints welcome five freshmen into the mix, including a trio of local products.
Leading the coaches poll is once again Hutchinson after the Dragons continued their stronghold on the conference last season with a team made up of primarily first year players. Following Seward is defending Region VI Champions Cowley at #3, Butler at #4, and Coffeyville at #5.
The Lady Saints take on Clarendon in their final exhibition action of the season tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 in the Greenhouse, followed by Preview Night Thursday night and then their 2016-2017 season opener next Tuesday against Otero.