Jefferson City girls preparing for both Shootout and Invitational

Jefferson City junior guard Caitlin Anderson dribbles the ball during a game earlier this season against Kickapoo at Fleming Fieldhouse.
Jefferson City junior guard Caitlin Anderson dribbles the ball during a game earlier this season against Kickapoo at Fleming Fieldhouse.

The Jefferson City Lady Jays have played at home just once so far this season.

That's about to change as the Lady Jays get set to take part in both the Capital City Shootout and the State Farm Holiday Hoops Invitational.

"It's going to be nice to have the chance to play in front of our home fans," Lady Jays coach Brad Conway said.

The double duty will begin Saturday when Jefferson City takes on Cardinal Ritter at 5:30 p.m. in the Shootout at Fleming Fieldhouse. Then the Lady Jays will play Dec. 28-29 in the Invitational at Rackers Fieldhouse before returning to Fleming for the final day of that tournament Dec. 30.

"These two events are big on our schedule," Conway said. "We want to use these games as a springboard for the rest of the season."

Jefferson City, ranked No. 9 in Class 5, is off to a 4-3 start to the season. It isn't start to the season the Lady Jays were looking for, but circumstances have brought about.

"We have kids that have missed time because of injury last year, we have freshmen playing significant minutes, we have kids that only played JV last year," Conway said. "We're still trying to learn to play together."

The Lady Jays haven't gotten down because of the start.

"The work ethic is good, the attitude is good, everybody is really upbeat," Conway said.

The Lady Jays haven't played since falling to Nixa last Saturday in the Stephanie Phillips Classic in Springfield. Jefferson City has tried to use this week as a chance to work on improving on both ends of the floor.

"We still don't know what we do well defensively quite yet," Conway said. "Offensively, we do some things pretty well, but then there are some things we don't.

"We really just need to be consistent on both ends of the floor, that's the key. We play two good quarters, then we have two that aren't so good.

"It seems like we lose our focus, but one thing about this group is they are willing to work hard and to learn."

Conway believes hard work, along with getting a full lineup, will pay off.

"Once we get healthy and figure some things out, there's still going to be a lot of basketball left this season," Conway said. "When we hit our stride, whenever that comes, we should be pretty fun to watch."

III

Jefferson City figures to get a stiff test Saturday against Cardinal Ritter.

"They like to get out and guard hard and get up and down the floor," Conway said. "It's nothing that we haven't seen this season, but it's something we are going to have to execute against when we have good looks."

Cardinal Ritter was 4-0 heading into a game late this week against O'Fallon Christian. The Lions defeated a pair of teams in Alabama before topping Bishop DuBourg and Lutheran: St. Charles.

Deanna Wilson (6-foot jr.) leads three Cardinal Ritter players averaging in double figures with 13 points per game to go along with 12 rebounds per contest. Ryan Haynes (5-6 jr.) and Brit'Nee Terry (5-8 jr.) are both averaging 10.8 points.

Kori Tomlin (5-3 jr.) is totaling four assists and five steals per game.

"We know that they are traditionally a good program, we know they are going to compete against us," Conway said.

III

Jefferson City will open the Invitational against Quincy, Ill., at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 28.

Conway doesn't know who should be installed as the favorite to win the title.

"It looks like everybody is in the same boat we are," Conway said. "Throughout these teams, they have some players back but are having to work in some new players as well.

"It's going to be wide-open. It's going to be a fun tournament, you're going to have to bring your best game each day to compete and execute."