The Jock Strap

As "The Jock Strap" returns, let's utilize the Ottumwa girls varsity basketball team as an example of one of the greater truths of life.

As men much wiser than me know and have taught over the years, nothing worth having comes for free. To become successful at a meaningful level, one must pay his/her dues, put in the hours, experience some heartache along the way, and keep one's eyes "on the prize" (if you will). If it were easy to achieve success, then everybody would do it. On the contrary, experiencing success means caring enough about it to put in the time to earn it.

This is exactly the type of credit that each and every member of the Ottumwa girls varsity basketball program deserves, including players, coaches, trainers, managers, fans, and yes, even broadcasters.

Last year, while taking more than its fair share of lumps in an eventual 2-20 season, the Ottumwa girls and coaches continued to play hard every minute of every game, continued to compete, and continued to believe that "it's a process." They knew they would get hammered some/most nights. They knew they were talented, but extremely young. They knew the CIML Metro is the best girls basketball conference in the state, with Top 10 teams like Des Moines East, Roosevelt, and Lincoln lingering around every corner night in and night out.

But none of this fazed them. And, after improving immensely throughout that brutal 2008-2009 season, the Bulldogs layed the groundwork for their current success.

Through five games of this 2009-2010 season, Ottumwa is 3-2, has a 3-game winning streak, and has already exceeded its entire season win total from last year. Wow.

Now, let's give credit, first and foremost, to the players who deserve the credit. The seven players I will name here are girls that endured the turmoil of last year, and lived to see a better day. (If I leave anybody out, please don't get angry. Nothing personal, of course.)

Senior PG Courtney Klyn.....Has greatly improved her ball-handling this season, and is doing a nice job of running the offense when on the floor. Also, C. Klyn is a ruthless competitor and wants to win as much as anybody ever has. That's what you have to love about her...She's a competitor. Whether it be softball, volleyball, basketball, or tiddly winks, Courtney Klyn hates to lose.

Sophomore PG Ashley Salgado.....The Bulldogs' resident ball-handling guru/wizard, one of the "Big 3" sophomores, as I like to say, is one of the girls who will be a member of the nucleus of this team for years to come. Salgado, Kelsey Nickerson, and Rachel Hinebaugh ("The Big 3") have played together since 7th grade, and will one day lead the Lady Bulldogs to Wells Fargo Arena and possibly all the way to a State Title. Salgado sees the whole floor, handles the ball well with both hands in traffic, and makes no-look passes that leave helpless defenders scratching their respective heads. "Gonna be a player," as my Dad, longtime successful boys basketball coach in Kansas City always says. Already is a player is what I would say.

Junior SG Amy Albertson.....Pound for pound, the best female athlete in the school. Maybe not the best player in any given sport, but possesses the most athletic ability. Quick and fast, strong, and extremely agile. Best on-ball defender, by far, that the Bulldogs have. Always gets the assignment of guarding the other team's best scorer man-to-man, and usually wins the battle. Many times actually makes the other team's best player look less than average. (See Taylor Shull of Mount Pleasant. Averaging 26 ppg coming into Ottumwa game. Scored 10 points and only 5 in first half.) Amy is also a solid shooter when she decides to assert herself offensively, and probably needs to do so more often. A good shooter if she gets her confidence going.

Sophomore SG Kelsey Nickerson.....Pure shooter. Big-time scorer. "Can flat out fill it up," as they say on the playground. When Nickerson gets the stroke going, you can forget about it. Made her first six shots from the floor, two 3-pointers, against Mount Pleasant in an eventual 77-49 Bulldog blowout of the Panthers. Had 12 points in the first quarter of that game. Scored 20, 20, and 15 in consecutive games already this season. Nickerson is someone that you would pay five dollars just to see her take part in shooting drills in a gym all by herself. Perfect looking stroke, and can be unconscious from the 3-point line when she gets hot.

Junior PF Jessi Black.....When you look up the phrase "hustle play" in a sports dictionary, you find a picture of Jessi Black. Always hustling, always trying to get to the basket to score or get fouled, and always scrapping, fighting, and clawing for every loose basketball. A classic "Ottumwa kid," as my friend and former coach Mike Holmes would say. Jessi Black will do whatever a coach asks her to do. If you're looking for someone who's slacking out on the floor, don't expect to find it from her. A true competitor, and someone who gives it her all at all times.

Senior PF Missy Staloch.....This multi-sport star for Ottumwa has really impressed me on the hardwood this season. You always knew that she was a good athlete. You always knew she could play defense and rebound. And you also always knew that if she ever decided to become assertive on the offensive end, that she had a nice enough shooting touch and athletic ability to score 10-plus points per game, even if most of those points had to come from the foul line. Well, this year, maybe because confidence comes along with being a senior, Missy has decided that she can score, and is going to score. You can literally see the confidence coming out of her as she has put up back to back to back to back (that's 4 straight) games with double digit points. 10, 15, 11, 13. Respectively, those are her point totals vs. Washington, Mount Pleasant, Southeast Polk, and Fairfield. Plus, she's still hitting the boards effectively and playing aggressive defense. If Missy keeps playing like this, expect to see her on some level of the all-Metro squad in this, her senior year. Good for you, Missy! I'm happy for you and proud of you!

Sophomore C Rachel Hinebaugh.....Stud. That's what Rachel Hinebaugh is as a sophomore, and that's what she could really be on a big-time level in the years to come if she continues to improve at the level she currently is. The 5'10" Bulldog post player is physical on the inside, gets to the offensive glass regularly, possesses a deft shooting touch, and has the competitiveness and killer instinct that you can't teach. She, like sophomore counterparts Salgado and Nickerson, literally eats, sleeps, drinks, and dreams basketball. A true "gym rat" as my Dad would say, and that, of course, is a huge compliment. Plays basketball year-round, loves the game, and loves winning. And, what's even more frightening about it, she's getting better daily. Can score down low with great post moves. Can also step away from the basket and has the touch to knock down 15 to 17-foot jumpers. Can probably even develop 3-point range for later in her life, when she'll most likely need that on the college level. But, one thing is for certain.....Defenses are in big trouble with the multi-faceted game of Hinebaugh. Come out and guard her at 17 feet, she'll drive by you and finish or hit the open player. Leave her open and she'll drain the jumper on you. She has you coming and going. You lose either way.

These girls were there all of last year, endured the pain of losing twenty games in a season, and have more than earned the success they are now experiencing.

Coaches Stan Rupe and Jeff Smith are outstanding teachers of the game and outstanding leaders of young people. They deserve a heaping helping of credit for what the Ottumwa girls basketball program is as a whole, this year and every other year.

And let me tell you one final thing, and remember I told you this (again). Do not be at all surprised when you have to book your hotel rooms for downtown Des Moines for March of 2011 and 2012 to see your Bulldogs at the Girls Class 4A State Basketball Championships. The talent is there, and the passion and desire to win (with this group of girls) will push them to great heights. As a great coach, and a great and wise man (my Dad, Doug Bruce, who won two Class 4A boys state basketball championships at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City) used to post in the Rockhurst locker room every year.....

"If you can dream it, you can achieve it. If you believe it, you can become it.....STATE CHAMPIONS!!!"

Believe that, Bulldogs fans. It's the truth.

Until next time,

"The Bruce"

P.S.- Thanks to my good buddy and outstanding Ottumwa baseball coach Mike "The Egg Man" Egbert for providing the inspiration for bringing "The Jock Strap" back to life. Thanks buddy!