Women’s and men’s basketball play through injuries and setbacks

The Seton Hill University Lady Griffins headed out to the court with a basketball and high hopes for the 2005-2006 season. Head coach Scott Breegle came into his third year of coaching at Seton Hill with goals of a successful season riding on his four returning senior players: Adrianne Scarsella, Kaleeda Jenkins, Denishia Salter, and Alanna Daniels.
However, the season started on a rough note when two of those four received game stopping injuries. Alanna Daniels had to fight through a hip injury and missed the first several weeks of practice. When she started to play again, she tore parts of her MCL and missed more court time. Daniels endured a third injury on her foot, but continues to work hard for the team. Guard and fellow senior, Kaleeda Jenkins, also had to over come serious injuries. She tore every ligament in her knee during the second scrimmage of the season. With only a few games left, she has finally started to see a few minutes of game time after a long road of recovery.


By Jillian Kowalewski,
Contributor
Women’s Basketball
The Seton Hill University Lady Griffins headed out to the court with a basketball and high hopes for the 2005-2006 season. Head coach Scott Breegle came into his third year of coaching at Seton Hill with goals of a successful season riding on his four returning senior players: Adrianne Scarsella, Kaleeda Jenkins, Denishia Salter, and Alanna Daniels.
However, the season started on a rough note when two of those four received game stopping injuries. Alanna Daniels had to fight through a hip injury and missed the first several weeks of practice. When she started to play again, she tore parts of her MCL and missed more court time. Daniels endured a third injury on her foot, but continues to work hard for the team. Guard and fellow senior, Kaleeda Jenkins, also had to over come serious injuries. She tore every ligament in her knee during the second scrimmage of the season. With only a few games left, she has finally started to see a few minutes of game time after a long road of recovery.
�The biggest obstacle we have faced this year is definitely injuries. We seem to be healing up pretty good right now, but we are still not 100% healthy. We were not playing well as a team at the beginning of the season due to some injuries and I think it started to lower our confidence level. Once we began to get healthy again, we started playing like we are capable of and our confidence went right back to where it needs to be,� said Coach Breegle.
The Lady Griffins started out their season with two tournaments, the Rio Grande Tournament and the Wooster Tip-Off Tournament. The start of the season did not look as promising as all had hoped, though, with a beginning record of 3-10. But, the ladies turned it around after New Year’s and now their overall record is 14-12, with a conference record of 11-4.
With a seven-game losing record and 3-10 season start, Assistant Coach Tim Cramer said it was very unexpected with the strong group of players they have, but after healing, they won eleven of our last twelve games, The season’s highlights thus far have been two victories over Griffins rival, St. Vincent.
Also Denishia Salter, senior guard, and Elena Radenkovic, a junior center, have both hit the 1,000 point mark in their SHU careers. But the Lady Griffins aren’tdone yet. With four games left in the season, they have a chance to win the AMC North Division and the automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament. Their next game is Senior Day on Tuesday, February 14, at home against Ursuline.
Men’s Basketball
The third year for the men’s basketball team has proved to be a successful one.
Head Coach, Tony Morocco, returned with some familiar players including senior, Brandon Chaison, and other starters such as Jose Sanchez and Zarko Kostic. Currently, the team’s overall record is 15-7, with their conference record at 8-4.
Although they lost two tough games to St. Vincent and Point Park, the team still has high expectations for the end of their season.
�Our season so far has been really good. We have a small team, so we relied on quickness and discipline, both in offense and defense,� said Assistant coach Mike Katic.
This season’s high point was the Hoops for Healing Tournament, where the Griffins defeated the defending National Champions, Walsh, in overtime.
The second semester was a tough one for the men. Because of academic ineligibility, the team found itself down to five members playing all forty minutes of the game. The Griffins are now up to eight players, and they hope to have enough left in them to finish strong. As of now, the men’s team is in second place in AMC North play. However, with four games remaining in the season, they still have a chance to come out number one.
�The anticipation is great for the last few games of the season because it holds our post season future. We are playing for home court advantage and depending on how other people play we might even be in a tie for first place, if we win out. What makes it more interesting is that we are limited to eight players and we are working twice as hard to get to nationals. This means every game from here out is critical,� said Brandon Chaison, a senior guard.
The playoffs will be held in Missouri.
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