The Lady Bison basketball team has lost three players for the season due to injury: junior guard Deshelle Isaac-Boyce, sophomore Michaela Brown and senior Sierra Rollins. The most recent of which is leading scorer and rebounder Sierra Rollins. Rollins has an average of 15.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Even with the loss of these players, the Lady Bisons are at the top of their game, in the driver seat at first place in the Great American Conference standings.
Harding defeated Southwestern Oklahoma State 73-54 last Saturday to stay in first place in the GAC standings. The Lady Bisons have already sealed a trip to the conference tournament held March 1-4 in Bartlesville, Okla.
With Harding entering the second half of conference play soon, the team has been changing its approaches and strategy in order to prepare for the upcoming conference games with fewer players.
“We realized that we had to step up after we lost players,” sophomore guard Kristen Celsor said. “We have really bonded together. We love each other, which helps on the court more than you think. Now every person has to look out for every other person. Everybody can play; everyone is a threat.”
Celsor leads the way for Harding, averaging 12.6 points per game. Freshman Montana Lewis is not far behind, averaging close to 10 points per game.
The Lady Bisons strategy with fewer players is different from previous plans. It revolves around the girls playing with versatility. The post players are playing up top at guard, and offensive and defensive players have been changing positions during the game.
Head coach Tim Kirby said the girls are adjusting to the change with a good attitude.
“I’m really pleased with the mentality that our team has right now,” Kirby said. “Some girls are averaging 39 minutes a game, at the same intensity level that we have always played. The girls have become tougher. Someone different has stepped up each game and made plays. A couple of girls have scored in the 20s and have realized how hard they have to play.”
The Lady Bisons enter the second half of the season with a young lineup consisting of freshmen Montana Lewis, Arielle Saunders and Tabitha Haney; sophomore Kristen Celsor; and seniors Kallie Bartee and Cherilyn McMenamy.
As the Lady Bisons prepare for the second half of conference play, they are ready for the challenges that come with it.
Kirby said this is the point in the basketball season that determines the team’s success. Teams face each other for a second time, so they know what to expect from each other.
As the team prepares for upcoming conference play without a few key players, the Lady Bisons are ready to take on the challenge.
“Coach Kirby has been a great encouragement to the team,” Kristen Celsor said. “He really believes in us and you can’t help but be encouraged. He makes plans to feed the ball to everyone and not just one specific player, so everyone can get a good shot.”
The Lady Bisons are prepared to play as a team and fight for number one in the GAC standing as they take on Southeastern Oklahoma State University at 2 p.m. Saturday in Durant, Okla.
Harding ranks first in the GAC in four categories-scoring defense, field goal percentage defense, blocked shots and assist-to-turnover margin.
Check hardingsports.com under the Bisons event calendar for links to live stats, live audio and live video.
