2021 Season Preview

ASHTON MCCORY

THE SOPHOMORE’S PATH TO GARDEN CITY WAS ANYTHING BUT A STRAIGHT LINE. MCCORRY WAS A STANDOUT VOLLEYBALL AND BASKETBALL PLAYER AT BISHOP CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL IN WICHITA BEFORE SIGNING WITH PITTSBURG STATE IN 2018. BUT A MYRIAD OF INJURIES LIMITED HER TIME AT THE NCAA-LEVEL. NOW, THE ONCE PROMISING GUARD HAS BEEN REROUTED TO JUNIOR COLLEGE LOOKING TO RESURRECT HER CAREER.

THE SOPHOMORE’S PATH TO GARDEN CITY WAS ANYTHING BUT A STRAIGHT LINE. MCCORRY WAS A STANDOUT VOLLEYBALL AND BASKETBALL PLAYER AT BISHOP CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL IN WICHITA BEFORE SIGNING WITH PITTSBURG STATE IN 2018. BUT A MYRIAD OF INJURIES LIMITED HER TIME AT THE NCAA-LEVEL. NOW, THE ONCE PROMISING GUARD HAS BEEN REROUTED TO JUNIOR COLLEGE LOOKING TO RESURRECT HER CAREER.

PRESEASON NOTEBOOK

Ashton McCorry never envisioned herself going to a Junior College. Raised in Wichita, KS, she was coached by her father, Evan, who runs Next Level Eclipse. She played volleyball, soccer, and basketball at a prestigious private school and always excelled both on the floor and in the classroom. She was named a Kansas Coach’s Association All-Star and made the All-State second team as a senior.

But things have a funny way of working themselves out.

After graduating from high school in 2018, she signed to play basketball at Pittsburg State where she redshirted her first season. With the 2019-20 campaign basically being wiped away, McCorry finally got her chance last year, suiting up in 28 games-averaging just under three points and three rebounds. But she never reached her potential, thanks to a multitude of injuries that forced her to rethink her future.

“There were times where it was very frustrating,” she said. “Injuries take a toll, and that’s where I was at Pitt State.” McCorry decided to transfer out and really wasn’t sure where her basketball future would take her.

In stepped Antwain Scales, who knew McCorry better than anyone. During his time at Wichita South, a program he guided to four straight 6A state titles, he was more infamously known for the game plans he designed to shut down McCorry. And they worked, every single time.

“We hated playing them because he knew the perfect game plan to stop me,” McCorry added. “He knew every move I was going to make before I made it.”

Once McCorry left Pittsburg State, Scales got a phone call. He knew Evan and Becky, Ashton’s mother, and he offered their daughter a chance to play at Garden City. There was also a local connection being that Becky had family that lived in Southwest Kansas. The deal was done shortly after that.

“He (Scales) wants the best for his players,” McCorry said. “He is hard on us, but we know he cares. We know he is trying to push us to new heights. Did I ever see myself coming to a Junior College? No. But, I need to make the most of this opportunity.”

McCorry is one of a handful of new players joining this year’s squad. Derryana Cobbins, an honor roll student and firstteam Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Selection at Derby, who averaged 8.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game as a senior, inked a National Letter of Intent over the summer. She helped lead the Panthers to a pair of substate titles, which included a 21-2 finish during the 2019-20 season. That incredible campaign happened right in the middle of the global pandemic, which eventually forced officials with the Kansas High School Activities Association to cancel the state tournament.

To add more shooting, Scales signed Jersey Mayfield, who was the Valedictorian at National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, MD. where she averaged over 20 points per game. He also added Dayshawna Carter, a 5-6 guard out of South Shore High School in Brooklyn, NY. The freshman, who began her basketball career in New York City before moving to Brooklyn for her final two prep seasons, led the Vikings to a 22-2 record during the 2019-20 season, which included a pair of playoff victories over Francis Lewis and Summit Academy.

Scales then worked on his front line, bolstering his depth with local product Keyhana Turner, a stretch four with the ability to shoot and work in the post. Sprinkle in Desiree Smith, a 6-2 freshman from Fayetteville, NC. whose brother, Dennis was a first-round pick of the Dallas Mavericks in 2017 who now plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, and Garden City has the potential to be as versatile as anyone.

Smith was a rebounding machine in high school, averaging a double-double both her junior and senior seasons at Trinity Christian. As an 11th grader, she tallied 10.4 points and 11.8 boards, leading the Crusaders to a 22-3 mark.

“I have tremendous passion and energy for the game of basketball,” Scales said. “Those are the key elements for building success. Educating, training, and developing young players for sports and life are truly the dynamics of why we are driven to succeed.”

Those new players join an already strong core. Kealani Neves, an All-Jayhawk West honorable mention last season who averaged 8.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, scored in double figures eight times including a season-best 20 points in a 56-52 loss to Hutchinson on March 6. That same game, she drilled a career-high five 3’s.

Handling the point-guard duties will be Alexis Smith, the transfer from Colby, who played in 21 games off the bench for Scales during the 2020-21 campaign. She posted a season-high eight points vs. Allen on Feb. 20.

Up front, Donetria McGee, who enters her third season in Garden City, was one of the most consistent players during the abbreviated spring schedule. The 2019-20 conference defensive player of the year, started 22 games and averaged 9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. She reached double figures 10 times including a 20-point outing on opening night vs. Cowley, a dramatic 7170 victory in Arkansas City.

Also back is Britney Mapang, another Colby transfer who is arguably one of Scales’ best defensive players. Justis Odom, who recently signed with Texas A&M Corpus Christi, is back to man the middle. The sophomore started all 21 games in the spring, averaging 7.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, landing on the All-Jayhawk West team. She posted three double-doubles.

“We return five players from last year’s team,” Scales explained. “Their positive energy and enthusiasm is infectious to our new players, which makes a great learning environment and culture for

what we are building here at Garden City.”

In addition to his recruiting efforts, Scales overhauled his coaching staff, bringing in former Wyoming player Daley Handy, who played for her father at Maize High School, and Junior College veteran, Brad Zinn. Zinn spent last season at Salem University and before that was the recruiting coordinator at Highland, helping lead the Scotties to an 80-10 overall record with a third-place finish in the NJCAA Tournament.

“Our new coaching staff has quickly made a positive impact in every phase of our program,” Scales said. “Coach Zinn and Coach Handy have instantly connected with our players. Our players have a tremendous respect for our coaches and the positive learning platform that they provide.”

And that staff will be challenged right off the bat with a road showdown at Barton

to begin conference play on Nov. 17. That’s followed up with a home date with Coffeyville and a trip to Independence, a national tournament qualifier from last season and one of the favorites to win the conference. They will face off with Landon Steele and Dodge City on Dec. 4 and close out the first semester on Monday, Dec. 13 at Cowley.

“I am excited for this upcoming season,” Scales mentioned. “Although we made an immediate impact in Region 6 of the Jayhawk conference, our goal is winning a national championship. With the results from last season our mentality has been unfinished business. We strive to make Garden City one of the top women’s basketball programs in the country. We have an extremely talented team with the ability to be playing our best basketball in March.”

JAYHAWK PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH TEAM COACH REC LY

Butler Mike Helmer 20-4

Hutchinson John Ontjes 19-5 Indy Jim Turgeon 20-7 Seward Todd Ciochetto 18-5

Coffeyville Tony Turner 15-7 Cowley Todd Clark 16-8 Barton Alan Clark 21-5

Dodge City Landon Steele 7-16 Cloud County Brett Erkenbrack 11-11 Garden City Antwain Scales 13-11 Colby James Cole 5-15 Pratt Eric Rodewald 9-13

NW Tech Annie Kassango 8-13

WOMEN’S COACHING STAFF

Coach Antwain Scales............................ 78 Asst Coach Brad Zinn............................. 80 Asst Coach Daley Handy....................... 81