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Bechard, Tigers looking to bounce back after loss
1/18/2012
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
Fort Hays State University's Tony Hobson has coached basketball at the high school, junior college and collegiate level for two and a half decades, including the last three and a half years with the Tigers. He has rarely seen a player like Tiger senior point guard Crista Bechard, a two-year starter, returning all-MIAA honorable mention selection and one of FHSU's top players again this winter.
"She is probably one of the best level-headed, mature kids I have ever coached," Hobson said.
Last Saturday, Bechard went through a tough moment and showed rare negative emotion in a 64-55 overtime loss to Pittsburg State University, ranked No. 10 in NCAA Division II. With nine seconds left and the score tied, Bechard missed two free throws that would have given FHSU the lead. At the end of regulation, Bechard put her hands on her head in frustration. After the game, Bechard took the defeat hard.
Hobson said there was probably "15 minutes worth" of "massive tears" in the locker room. Bechard blamed herself for the loss -- even though Hobson said FHSU wouldn't be where they are without her play.
"I don't really think about that," Bechard said after the defeat. "It's nice to hear every once in awhile, but I know we wouldn't be 14-3 without the other girls as well, so I do it for them."
Hobson and the Tigers, though, have helped Bechard bounce back from the moment entering today's road contest against Emporia State University, 11-3, 7-2 MIAA and ranked No. 20 in NCAA Division II in the latest poll released Tuesday.
"It wasn't her fault. She had a chance to make a big play, but there were a bunch of other things that went on," senior Kimber Weiser said. "...Everyone just told her to keep her head up."
FHSU, still on the cusp of the top-25, is 14-3, 6-3 MIAA. Game time is 5:30 p.m. at White Auditorium.
After regulation, Hobson told Bechard she would hit the last second shot in overtime. Later, he jokingly said FHSU wasn't going to trade her or listen to offers from other teams.
"Just think of all the times she has came through for us in the clutch," Hobson said with a smile. "This time she didn't, but I bet she has about an 80 or 90 percent rate."
Bechard, who averages 7.9 points per contest and has a team-best 49 assists, is one of the team's stronger free throw shooters at 65 percent. At the end of regulation, junior Traci Keyser, the school record holder for single season free throw percentage, was on the bench after she struggled against PSU's defense.
"With the five people out on the floor at that time, I would have picked her to shoot them and I would again if Traci wasn't on the floor," Hobson said.
"Anybody else, I would just as soon have Crista in that situation and she just was unable to hit one of them.
"She blamed herself for the loss, which the most recent mistake is always the one you remember, but we made it clear to her that it wasn't (her fault) and she knows that," he added. "She has been around long enough. She just took it tough."
Lehman starting?
Freshman center Kate Lehman continues to play at a high level since holiday break ended. Facing the league's biggest front line -- including 6-foot-3 senior Larissa Richards -- Lehman had 15 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks versus the Gorillas. In the last five games, Lehman has averaged 14.6 points, 11 rebounds and 3.6 blocks a contest. Her 41 blocks is currently sixth all-time in school annals.
"She had a great game against a good, physical player and it's starting to not surprise me as much as it once did," Hobson said.
However, the 6-foot-4 Lehman has not started a game yet this season. FHSU has started senior Janel Durler in the post and then brought Lehman in early in the first half. Durler averages 12.6 minutes a contest and collects 2.5 points and four rebounds a game. Hobson said Monday it's possible that Lehman could start over Durler.
Earlier this season, he made a move in the starting lineup to start junior Kelsie Sorenson over junior Melissa Nelson, a move that has benefited the team. Hobson said he will have to "weigh the options," because he likes Durler's physicality at the start of games. However, Durler scores little and FHSU has had trouble scoring at the start of games.
"We have been starting so slow offensively," Hobson said. "If you are starting slowly offensively and if you don't have your major inside threat in there, it's certainly something you have to consider because why wait until the 14-minute mark to bring in what's been our most productive offensive player the last five games?"
Poll changes
The Fort Hays men's team (11-4, 5-4 MIAA) dropped six spots in the national poll, but is still ranked No. 25 in the newest rankings that came out Tuesday. FHSU has now been ranked in 35 consecutive polls. Missouri Southern State University is the only other MIAA men's team ranked, at No. 16. Three women's teams are ranked: Pittsburg State University at No. 15, Washburn University at No. 16 and Emporia State at No. 20.
The Tiger women continue to be close to the national rankings. They have 33 votes, nine away from the top-25.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |