By BOB DAVIDSON
Salina Journal
Keith Ferguson won't feel like the Maytag repairman this season.
After surviving last season with six players -- occasionally five -- Ferguson won't be alone on the Brown Mackie bench in his second season as the Lions' coach.
This year's roster has 11 players, enough to conduct scrimmages during practice and even substitute during games.
"It got lonely," Ferguson said with a smile, "especially when you're looking down the bench and one's injured and one's fouled out. It got real lonely."
The extra players also mean extra work for Ferguson and his staff.
"I feel like this is my first year because I've got to show up and coach," he said. "Last year I could roll the ball out and say go. We had to do some stuff as a coaching stuff with practice and be more prepared about stuff."
Despite a skeleton squad Brown Mackie did just fine. The Lions played through constant fatigue and foul problems and finished with a 15-16 record.
"Now I don't have to use time outs for rest, I can use them to stop a run," Ferguson said. "We're excited about this year and the opportunity to do some things we couldn't do last year."
Last year's top player, forward Whitney Holmes, returns for her sophomore season. Holmes, a 5-foot-11 forward from Oklahoma City, was superb in her first collegiate campaign, averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds.
"I'm a lot smarter coach when she's on the floor," Ferguson said." Whitney is a good player. "She could score from about everywhere. Hopefully I'll stay smart and we'll get her the ball."
Robbin Weber, the team's second leading scorer with 15 points, opted not to return to school. But Ferguson feels he has capable replacements.
Topping the list are two Salina area athletes who are coming off outstanding high school careers -- forwards Shayla Seim from Southeast of Saline and Jara Shoemaker from Minneapolis. Seim earned all-Saline County honors last winter and led Southeast to 17-7 record and a berth in the Class 3A state tournament.
"They'll help us out a lot. They're both athletic and they both can play. They'll help Whitney carry some of the load a little bit," Ferguson said.
Two returning players will play key roles once again -- guard Monica Burgess and forward LaChelle Hyatt.
"The two I've been really surprised by are Monica Burgess, who came off a knee injury and hasn't lost a step, and LaChelle Hyatt," Ferguson said. "LaChelle has played well. She's finishing her shots. I think the added depth is really going to push those girls, too."
Ferguson's expects three other newcomers to make significant contributions -- Kenyatta Brown, a guard from Cowley College, center Dannielle Smith and guard Monique Earl. Smith and Earl are freshmen from LaGrange, Ga.
Sophomore Sierra Machnicki from Lincoln returns as does Miranda Starns from Brewster. Katie Sales, a freshman from Perry-Lecompton, rounds out the squad.
"Everybody from last year's team has been real receptive," Ferguson said. "They know they're not going to get as much playing time, but also think we have a chance to have a lot better team. And I think that's more important to them."