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By DOUG PAPE [email protected]
Wednesday, December 06, 2000     Page: 1C

If Bryan Whitten and Karen Haag had chances to sit on Santa Claus’ lap,
they would have somewhat lengthy wish lists.
   
Whitten, the King’s College women’s basketball coach, would whisper in St.
Nick’s ear for fewer turnovers, better defense and rebounding.
    Wilkes University’s Haag, would also like a limit to turnovers, a strong
presence in the post and some leadership.
   
The two coaches are hoping Christmas comes early tonight when the King’s
Lady Monarchs (2-3 overall, 1-1 Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom League)
play host to the Lady Colonels (1-5, 0-2) at 6 p.m. in Scandlon Gymnasium.
   
“Wilkes/King’s is always a big game,” Whitten said. “For us it’s very
big because it’s a conference game and we need to get back in the win column
and make sure that when it gets down to the top four teams for postseason that
we’re one of them.”
   
The game also counts in the Times Leader Mayor’s Cup series. King’s leads
the competition 4-3. The city school with more head-to-head victories in the
2000-01 sports season wins the award.
   
Both teams are coming off tough losses. King’s, looking for its seventh
consecutive victory against Wilkes, enters after a 70-67 loss to FDU-Madison
on Saturday. The Lady Colonels fell to perennial MAC powerhouse Scranton on
Saturday, 80-30.
   
“We’ve had some tough games against a couple of really good teams,” Haag
said. “We are taking baby steps, we have to take care of the basketball and
really hope to generate inside scoring.”
   
Both teams have gotten good production from their guards. King’s Nikki
Kingston (10.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game), Denise Igo (10 ppg, 5.4
rpg), and Tiffini Varrasse (9.4 ppg) are among the Lady Monarch leaders.
   
“They’re doing some things well,” Whitten said. “They are getting some
points up on the board. I don’t know if we’re passing the ball as well as we
can. Our assist totals are down. We need to get some leadership from our
guards.”
   
Forward Fran Monte leads the King’s offense with 15.8 points and 7.8
rebounds per contest.
   
Wilkes, which has 12 freshmen and three sophomores, is led by guards
Camille Centini, Keri Loeffelman and Rena Gorish. Centini, a Coughlin High
School graduate, is the Lady Colonels’ leader with 10.2 points and 2.3 assists
per game. Loeffelman scores 8.2 while Rena Gorish adds seven points per game.
   
Inside, King’s will look for a defensive spark from Maggie Widdoes (5.2
ppg), Carissa Ryan (3.4 ppg) and April Tanner (3.2 ppg).
   
Caitlin Lee (5.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Corinne Stewart (4.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and GAR
High School’ Sara Chmielewski (4.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg) are the Lady Colonels’
threats in the post.
   
Haag said her rotation has basically remained the same, but with such a
young team she is using the starting positions as rewards for quality
performance in practices and games.
   
“We’re giving everybody a chance and we’re waiting for someone to be able
to step up,” Haag said, “and it’s not like they’re not trying. It’s just a
tall order with the schedule we’re playing for these young kids.”
   
King’s presents a tall order. Haag said it does not have the same team as
last year with the graduation of Freedom Most Valuable Player Joanne
Polakoski, but they’re still tough.
   
“We’re going to have our hands full,” she said.
   
Doug Pape, a Times Leader sports writer, can be reached at 829-7227.