SALINA. Kan. – Watching these talented young women run up anddown the playing floor at the Bicentennial Center is a sight tobehold. They have outstanding basketball skills which have beenpolished by years of practice. They also possess tremendousathletic ability and an intense desire to win.

To say the least, Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Lady Wolvesdominated the Mississippi scene in women’s basketball this season.They carried a 26-2 record to the NJCAA National ChampionshipTournament with visions of winning a national title.

Reality is harsh, similar to a butterfly hitting the windshieldof an automobile traveling 70 miles per hour. It smacked the LadyWolves between the eyes and knocked them down. To their credit theynever gave up and produced a strong effort.

Co-Lin suffered two straight setbacks and the Lady Wolves madethe long bus ride back to Wesson, contemplating their respectivefutures. They had a legitimate chance to beat Iowa Western in theopening round but shot the ball poorly and only scored 45points.

Against Trinity Valley (Texas) in the consolation round, theycaught an upset victim which had serious designs on a nationaltitle. Trinity Valley recovered from the disappointment of anopening round loss and beat Co-Lin 80-67.

Co-Lin produced a strong effort against Trinity Valley but theLady Wolves were overwhelmed by superior height and depth. What cana 6-foot post player like Mindy Livaudais do against TrinityValley’s 6-5 Cynecia Robinson?

Answer: Livaudais can play her heart out and still come upshort. Trinity Valley can throw a pair of 6-2 reserves against herwhen Robinson needs a rest, plus three more 6-footers.

Certainly, it is an uneven playing field at the nationaltournament. Co-Lin is restricted to recruiting seven counties andsigning four out-of-state players. Trinity Valley, based in Athensnear Dallas, has a national recruiting budget and signs playersfrom California, Florida, Richmond, Va., Detroit, Chicago andWashington, D.C. Only one Texan started for the Cardinals.

Obviously, it is a mismatch in talent.

In Co-Lin’s opening round loss, Iowa Western’s Ksenyia Shneyderpoured in 30 points. A 6-4 sophomore from the Ukraine, theinternational star is 21 years old and shoots the lights out from3-point range.

Look back to last year’s tournament for a moment and considerhow the Mississippi representative fared. East Central lost a1-point, 74-73, decision to Cloud County (Kan.), the eventualnational champion, in the opening round. Then East Central wasblown out 102-61 by Central Arizona in the consolation round.

Most of these tournament teams boast an international flavor.Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (35-0), playing Seward County (Kan.)in Saturday night’s championship game, featured a starting lineupthat included guards from Brazil and Venezuela, a 6-3 center fromBrazil, a forward by the name of Brandi Russia from Cincinnati anda forward from South Coffeyville, Okla.

Ready to come off the bench for NEO are a 6-3 sophomore fromBrazil and a 6-2 freshman from New Zealand. I would love to seeNEO’s recruiting budget.

Seward County (37-0) features a 6-6 center from Poland and a 5-9guard from Lithuania. The Saints boast the NJCAA Player of the Yearin 5-9 Kim Ortega of Logandale, Nevada. They have three playersfrom Texas and eight players from Kansas.

No wonder it is difficult for a team out of Region 23, Louisianaand Mississippi, to win many games in the national tournament.Coaching certainly isn’t the problem. You could have Pat Summitcoaching and Bobby Knight cussing on the sidelines. It would makelittle difference. Great players make great coaches.

At Co-Lin, Coach Gwyn Young must replace three sophomorestarters in Livaudais, post Christy Brown and point guard GwenSmith. Returning starters are guard Tiania Burns and forwardLindsay Altman.

Co-Lin loses seven sophomores, among them 6-footer Hope Masonand 5-11 post Laurie Ann Davis. Also graduating are Livaudais,Alexya Irvin and 5-9 post Christy Brown. Obviously, Young needssome large post players to fill some big shoes but few areavailable.

Young also needs some consistent 3-point shooters. That shortagewas glaringly evident in the national tournament. In two games,Co-Lin was just 3 of 29 from 3-point range. You must have somezone-busters in national competition.

The lack of perimeter shooting wasn’t that evident during theregular season. Co-Lin was able to take the ball inside withauthority, with Livaudais, Brown, Altman and Shaquita Smithpounding the backboards.

Co-Lin still has much to be proud of, winning state and regionalchampionships. Co-Lin is considered one of the Cadillac basketballprograms in Mississippi.