Lavin, USD focus solely on Washburn
Last year in Division II takes Coyotes to Elite Eight
By Steven Allspach Journal sports writer | Posted: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
So, this isn't Chad Lavin's first rodeo, but it may be one last, grand round-up.
After all, growing up, he never missed the lively Crystal Springs Ranch Rodeo back in his South Dakota hometown of Clear Lake.
Now, though, it is time for an ultimate championship go-round for the University of South Dakota women's basketball coach, who announced back in November he was retiring at the conclusion of the current season, his 26th in the college ranks.
Lavin has his team three wins away from the NCAA Division II national championship and they break out of the chute tonight against Washburn University in the Elite Eight finals in Kearney, Neb.
The Coyotes, ranked third nationally, risk a 31-1 record and 29-game winning streak against 24th-ranked Washburn, the Topeka, Kan., member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, sporting a 26-6 mark.
The two meet at 8:30 in the Nebraska-Kearney Health and Sports Center.
In the first game today at noon, ninth-ranked Alaska-Anchorage (29-4) faces 27-5 Franklin Pierce, N.H. Wingate, N.C. (26-7) meets Northern Kentucky (25-8) in a duel of unranked clubs at 2:30. Also, No. 1 Delta State of Mississippi (32-0) tangles with No. 23 California, Pa. (27-6) at 6 p.m.
The USD-Washburn winner squares off with the California-Delta winner Thursday at 9:30. The title game is Saturday at 5 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
''Talk about winning a national championship is something we have to ignore right now,'' said Lavin prior to the first-round contest. "There are eight teams here, they're all capable of winning three games.
''It's a cliche, sure, but our one and only worry is an excellent Washburn team. If you don't win the first one ... well, you know what happens then.''
Lavin has guided USD to the school's first trip to the Elite Eight, but Washburn has been to the mountaintop, winning the Division II title in 2005 under current Coach Ron McHenry.
USD, which begins its transition to NCAA Division I next fall, features a perimeter offense showcasing 5-7 twins Jeana and Jenna Hoffman along with Ashley Robinette and Shannon Daly.
En route to winning the final North Central Conference title with a 12-0 record, Jeana Hoffman led the league in scoring with a 17.7 average and was named the loop's co-MVP.
Jeana has pumped in 115 three-point baskets this season, Robinette 56, Daly 30, Jenna 27 and reserve Maggie Youngberg 50.
The Hoffman twins, South Dakota prep all-staters at Mitchell, spent two years at Division I Texas State, but transferred when their father, David, was diagnosed with Wegener's disease, an incurable but treatable malady of the immune system.
"We had two good years at Texas State,'' says Jenna. "But there was no question we'd come back home when dad got sick.
"Coming out of high school it was between USD and Texas State and it's so neat now that we're in the Elite Eight. It's been an incredible year.''
Biologically speaking, the Hoffman's are identical.
But.
"Jeana's a little more relaxed and carefree, plus she shoots with her left hand and I shoot with my right,'' says Jenna.
Corkey Stiger, a 5-9 senior guard, paces Washburn with a 17.9 scoring average. Amanda Holmes, a 6-2 post player, adds 12.4 per contest and 5-9 wing Janice Bright 10.4.
One secret to Lavin's success has been his straight-shooting approach to not only evaluating the opponent, but his own team and individual talent.
"It all comes back to the players,'' says the USD coach, 446-300 overall and 271-139 in two different stints totaling 14 seasons at the Coyote helm. He also coached 12 seasons at Division I Wyoming. "The kids are the ones who get it done. Anything they accomplish, I think they deserve.
"If they win the championship, I'll be extremely happy for them. It's been my job to keep them focused and pointed to what I honestly believe is a realistic goal.
"It didn't take too many games into the season to realize this was a special group. I've had wonderful teams, but this one, well, there is something a little extra involved here. Don't know what it is, but I get a little emotional just thinking about what they mean to me.''
Trust in his players has also been part of Lavin's stock in the coaching trade.
"When I was a freshman, Coach Lavin was getting a player that needed a lot of work,'' recalls Bridget Yoerger, a junior from Hinton who starts along with the four standout seniors. "I really never played in the post in high school, but he trusted me to learn and improve.
"There were some difficult times, but we've all worked hard to get to this point.''
Yoerger has improved immensely. She's averaged 11.3 points and 6.9 rebounds and with a season to go has 1,094 points and 580 rebounds to become only the 10th player in school history to join the 1,000/500 club.
The undersized 5-11 post, 14th in NCC scoring and fifth in rebounding, will likely patrol the 6-2 Holmes, who takes down eight rebounds a game.
The Coyotes take care of business in a personal way. They lead Division II with fewest turnovers per game (10.4) and the most three-point field goals (9.97).
USD's prolific perimeter shooters undoubtedly will be harassed by Washburn's speedy Mainz, the Mid-America Athletic Conference defensive player of the year and also the two-time MIAA player of the year in soccer.
Mainz also averages 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals a game.
After all, growing up, he never missed the lively Crystal Springs Ranch Rodeo back in his South Dakota hometown of Clear Lake.
Now, though, it is time for an ultimate championship go-round for the University of South Dakota women's basketball coach, who announced back in November he was retiring at the conclusion of the current season, his 26th in the college ranks.
Lavin has his team three wins away from the NCAA Division II national championship and they break out of the chute tonight against Washburn University in the Elite Eight finals in Kearney, Neb.
The Coyotes, ranked third nationally, risk a 31-1 record and 29-game winning streak against 24th-ranked Washburn, the Topeka, Kan., member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, sporting a 26-6 mark.
The two meet at 8:30 in the Nebraska-Kearney Health and Sports Center.
In the first game today at noon, ninth-ranked Alaska-Anchorage (29-4) faces 27-5 Franklin Pierce, N.H. Wingate, N.C. (26-7) meets Northern Kentucky (25-8) in a duel of unranked clubs at 2:30. Also, No. 1 Delta State of Mississippi (32-0) tangles with No. 23 California, Pa. (27-6) at 6 p.m.
The USD-Washburn winner squares off with the California-Delta winner Thursday at 9:30. The title game is Saturday at 5 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
''Talk about winning a national championship is something we have to ignore right now,'' said Lavin prior to the first-round contest. "There are eight teams here, they're all capable of winning three games.
''It's a cliche, sure, but our one and only worry is an excellent Washburn team. If you don't win the first one ... well, you know what happens then.''
Lavin has guided USD to the school's first trip to the Elite Eight, but Washburn has been to the mountaintop, winning the Division II title in 2005 under current Coach Ron McHenry.
USD, which begins its transition to NCAA Division I next fall, features a perimeter offense showcasing 5-7 twins Jeana and Jenna Hoffman along with Ashley Robinette and Shannon Daly.
En route to winning the final North Central Conference title with a 12-0 record, Jeana Hoffman led the league in scoring with a 17.7 average and was named the loop's co-MVP.
Jeana has pumped in 115 three-point baskets this season, Robinette 56, Daly 30, Jenna 27 and reserve Maggie Youngberg 50.
The Hoffman twins, South Dakota prep all-staters at Mitchell, spent two years at Division I Texas State, but transferred when their father, David, was diagnosed with Wegener's disease, an incurable but treatable malady of the immune system.
"We had two good years at Texas State,'' says Jenna. "But there was no question we'd come back home when dad got sick.
"Coming out of high school it was between USD and Texas State and it's so neat now that we're in the Elite Eight. It's been an incredible year.''
Biologically speaking, the Hoffman's are identical.
But.
"Jeana's a little more relaxed and carefree, plus she shoots with her left hand and I shoot with my right,'' says Jenna.
Corkey Stiger, a 5-9 senior guard, paces Washburn with a 17.9 scoring average. Amanda Holmes, a 6-2 post player, adds 12.4 per contest and 5-9 wing Janice Bright 10.4.
One secret to Lavin's success has been his straight-shooting approach to not only evaluating the opponent, but his own team and individual talent.
"It all comes back to the players,'' says the USD coach, 446-300 overall and 271-139 in two different stints totaling 14 seasons at the Coyote helm. He also coached 12 seasons at Division I Wyoming. "The kids are the ones who get it done. Anything they accomplish, I think they deserve.
"If they win the championship, I'll be extremely happy for them. It's been my job to keep them focused and pointed to what I honestly believe is a realistic goal.
"It didn't take too many games into the season to realize this was a special group. I've had wonderful teams, but this one, well, there is something a little extra involved here. Don't know what it is, but I get a little emotional just thinking about what they mean to me.''
Trust in his players has also been part of Lavin's stock in the coaching trade.
"When I was a freshman, Coach Lavin was getting a player that needed a lot of work,'' recalls Bridget Yoerger, a junior from Hinton who starts along with the four standout seniors. "I really never played in the post in high school, but he trusted me to learn and improve.
"There were some difficult times, but we've all worked hard to get to this point.''
Yoerger has improved immensely. She's averaged 11.3 points and 6.9 rebounds and with a season to go has 1,094 points and 580 rebounds to become only the 10th player in school history to join the 1,000/500 club.
The undersized 5-11 post, 14th in NCC scoring and fifth in rebounding, will likely patrol the 6-2 Holmes, who takes down eight rebounds a game.
The Coyotes take care of business in a personal way. They lead Division II with fewest turnovers per game (10.4) and the most three-point field goals (9.97).
USD's prolific perimeter shooters undoubtedly will be harassed by Washburn's speedy Mainz, the Mid-America Athletic Conference defensive player of the year and also the two-time MIAA player of the year in soccer.
Mainz also averages 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals a game.
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