Members of the Jamestown Community College women’s basketball team, in front, from left, are: Lauren Alfa, Jessica Beehler, Kymi Nance and Nonjabulo Mathebula. In back are: Zalika Stevens, Destiny Evans, Hannah Hicks, Sydney Burk and D’Auzhanay Harden. Photo courtesy of Jamestown CC Athletics

JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown Community College women’s basketball team will look to create a foundation during the 2021-22 season.

To accomplish that, consistency will be the key.

Head Coach Dave Turnbull, entering his first season at the helm, is excited for the season to start with playing some of the country’s top team teams right off the bat.

“The most exciting thing right from the jump is that we play some of the top teams in the country during the first month of the season,” said Turnbull. “We’re going to find out pretty quickly where we are as a team.”

Turnbull is referring to a stretch of seven days where he will face three ranked opponents in No. 14 Union County College (Nov. 14), No. 1 Lakeland CC (Nov. 17), and No. 19 CCBC Essex (Nov. 20).

The Jayhawks will start the season at home on Saturday against CC of Beaver County and then play seven of their next eight games on the road. After the opening week of the season, the Jayhawks will play in the Garrett College Classic (Nov. 12-13), travel to Baltimore (Nov. 19-20), and end it with trips to Genesee CC (Nov. 23) and Lorain County CC (Nov. 30).

With the seven of eight games on the road during the first month of the season, Turnbull has been getting his team ready mentally for not only the games, but for the trips themselves.

“We’ve talked about the logistics of traveling, whether it’s getting enough rest, eating right, amongst others,” Turnbull said. “One thing that I have stressed is defense. Defense travels and we are going to be in hostile environments for the first month of the season. As long as we play solid defense, I think we will be alright.”

After a tough road trip, the Jayhawks will end the first half of the semester with four of their last six games played at the Physical Education Complex including their matchup against West Virginia University Potomac State College in the Post-Journal Classic (Dec. 5). JCC closes out the semester with games against Lorain County CC (Dec. 16) and Lakeland CC (Dec.18).

After the midseason break, the Jayhawks will travel to Butler County CC (Jan. 14) before returning home for a Region 3 game against Erie CC (Jan. 22). Jamestown CC will then hit the road for regional games against Niagara County CC (Jan. 26) and Monroe CC (Jan. 29).

The Jayhawks will return home for a game against Villa Maria College (Jan. 31) before closing out the regular season with six regional games, including a three-game homestand against Niagara County CC (Feb. 5), Monroe CC (Feb. 9), and Erie CC (Feb. 12).

Closing out the season with games at Niagara County CC (Feb. 16) and Monroe CC (Feb. 19), the Jayhawks will move into the 2021-22 NJCAA Region 3 Basketball Championship Tournament on 26-27.

“I think that we have some of the best talent on this team that there has been in years prior,” said Turnbull. “I think we are going to surprise a lot of people within the region this year. Having four returners from the previous season will definitely help us. All four will give us an advantage and all bring something different to the table.”

Turnbull was referring to guards Jessica Beehler (Dunkirk/Dunkirk), Kymi Nance (Dunkirk,/Dunkirk), and Sydney Burk (Jamestown/Southwestern), and forward Hannah Hicks (Cleveland/Cleveland Heights).

Last season, Beehler was ranked second nationally with 7.1 assists per game while Hicks was second in rebounds per game (17.5), third in blocks per game (3.6), and shot 55% from the floor which was 10th in the country. Hicks was also named to the NJCAA Region 3 All-Region Team a season ago and was selected to the National Women’s Basketball Coaches NJCAA Top-40 All-Star Game, which was held in Georgia during the summer.

“I’m very familiar with three of the returners in Beehler, Nance, and Burk,” Turnbull added. “I coached Burk her senior season at Southwestern High, and she was arguably my best player. With Beehler and Nance, I’ve coached against them, and to watch them grow as leaders, it has been awesome.”

When it comes to the new faces on the team, Turnbull says that their athleticism jumps out the most and he believes that they will be big-time contributors.”

“Their athleticism really excites me,” said Turnbull. “D’Auzhanay Harden (Erie, Pennsylvania/Erie) is as good a player off the bounce that I have seen in some time. Destiny Evans (Peoria, Illinois/Lorain) is athletic, long, quick, and she will help us a lot. Zalika Stevens (Toronto, Canada/Thornlea Secondary School) does everything well and she will fill up a stat sheet. Lauren Alfa (Mayville/Chautauqua Lake Central) and Nonjabulo Mathbula (Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa/St. Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls) have also been bright spots this preseason.”