JBU basketball returns
Golden Eagles host SWC on Thursday
The John Brown University women’s basketball team is not jumping back into the 2016-17 season totally cold after nearly a month since their last regular season game.
The Golden Eagles, who returned to practice on Dec. 31, played a scrimmage Monday night against University of the Ozarks out of Clarksville at Bill George Arena. Score was erased after every quarter, but both teams needed the work according to JBU head coach Jeff Soderquist.
“It looked like two teams that had been off for a while, but that’s why we did it,” Soderquist said Tuesday morning. “You want to play somebody else and get that feel back before you start playing games that count. We looked good in some things and then we looked like we had been off for a while.”
No. 20-ranked John Brown (9-4, 1-1 Sooner Athletic Conference) hasn’t played a regular season game since throttling Ecclesia 9642 on Dec. 8 in Bill George Arena.
JBU will host Southwestern Christian in a conference game at 6 p.m. on Thursday in Bill George Arena to start the second half of its season.
Southwestern Christian (8-4, 0-2) dropped both of its first two conference games by three points. The Eagles had a 72-69 loss to Wayland Baptist and a 6259 loss in overtime to Science and Arts (Okla.).
Soderquist pointed out that Southwestern Christian finished third in the Sooner Athletic Conference last year and didn’t lose a lot of players from last year’s roster.
“They’re a very good team,” he said. “They lost a close game to Wayland, who we know is pretty good. I’m a little surprised they lost to USAO, but then again USAO beat Indiana Wesleyan, which is a very good team and a team we were happy to beat.
“They’re a very good team and we’ve got to come to play, and they’ve shown capability like they did last year to finish in the top of the conference.”
Southwestern Christian is led by guard Maranda Janz, who is averaging 16.8 points per game, while post player Eliora Johnson is averaging 15.5 points per game.
Guard Andi McGill leads the team with 58 assists and averages 9.0 points per game.
“Janz and Johnson are their two main scorers and they do their stuff very well,” Soderquist said. “Janz does a good job using screens and Johnson. They really run their offense to try and get her shots.
“Johnson is a post player that’s super athletic and she’ll take you out. She’ll drive on you. She’s a good rebounder.
“McGill leads the team in assists and she is the main one that runs everything and is the one trying to make sure the right people get the ball.”
John Brown leads the nation in several 3-point shooting statistics. They’re top in 3-point percentage at 44.8 (146 of 326) and 3-pointers made per game (11.2).
JBU is second in total 3-pointers made (146), but the team with the most, Pikeville (Ky.), which has 164, has played three more games than JBU.
Just like he said at the end of the fall semester, Soderquist reiterated that the Golden Eagles are going to have to get better in other areas of their game as opponents try and shut down their 3-point attack.
“We’re going to have to get the ball inside and make some two-point shots,” Soderquist said. “Our guards are going to have to drive and finish inside.
“Our emphasis going into this second semester is defense and rebounding. That was a weakness in the first half.”
Sophomore Baily Cameron of Siloam Springs leads the Golden Eagles in scoring at 16.1 points per game, while senior guard Kodee Powell is at 12.6 and sophomore post Preslea Reece is at 10.8 points per game.
Guards Kimmy Deines, Jana Schammel and Jordan Martin of Bentonville, all average more than 7 points per game.
Powell has been the Golden Eagles’ top 3-point threat, shooting a blistering 58.5 percent (38 of 65). Seven JBU players have made at least 10 3-pointers.