A newsletter for the students, faculty and staff of the Collin County Community College District. Published monthly. For information or submissions, call 972.758.3849. Cougar News welcomes student and faculty submissions. Next deadline: May 10 All submissions are due by 5 p.m. on the due date. Photos cannot be returned. Text should be e-mailed to mrobinson@ccccd.edu or sent on disk. Please submit copy that is proofed, edited and saved in Word format. Cougar News staff: Lisa Vasquez, director; Mark Robinson, editor; Marcy Cadena-Smith, contributor; Sydney Portilla-Diggs, student correspondent; Stephanie Hall, student correspondent; Nick Young, photographer; Heather Darrow, contributor; Shawn Stewart, contributor; Lydia Gober, contributor; Tatiana Shehedah, contributor
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Basketball teams score big in conference play
Lady Cougars cap off best season ever
The Lady Cougars women’s basketball clawed their way to some “firsts” during their 2005-06 campaign.
For the first time in the program’s history, the squad had a winning record, a 20-win season and a visit to the Region V Tournament. Despite losing in the tournament to South Plains 57-39, head coach Jeff Allen deemed the season a success after a 20-11 record overall and going 11-5 in conference play.
“Overall, it was pretty successful,” Allen said. “One of our goals was to be the first team to reach the regional tournament. We did not go as far as we would have liked, but it was a step in the right direction.”
Collin earned a trip to the tourney by finishing third in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference behind McLennan Community College and Temple Junior College.
“I think, as a program, we are trying to model ourselves after the men’s team. They go to the playoffs almost every year have winning seasons year after year,” Allen said. “With the success it just starts to build a winning pride.”
As for individual honors, sophomore Alana Lara was named the Co-Defensive Play of the Year and to the All-Conference Team. Freshman Channing Gann also was named to the All-Conference squad. Sophomore’s Ashley Price and Trina Mays were named to the All-Conference honorable mention.
Men's squad continues success
In a span of eight games, the men’s Cougar basketball team continued its success in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC).
Battling injuries and attempting to fuse a team of 11 newcomers, the Cougars finished the season winning seven of its eight and going 21-10 overall and 9-5 in conference. However, before starting that streak with an 86-77 win over Weatherford Junior College, the Cougars were 2-4 in district including a double overtime loss to Grayson County Community College.
“We really were playing well during the last 10 games of the season,” head coach Jim Sigona said. “In conference, we won seven of the last eight. We were concerned because we had not clicked yet. But the guys responded and played well.”
Overall, the team improved from last year in which they went 18-12 and 7-7 in conference. This year, Collin finished third in conference and eventually lost to Midland Junior College 71-62 in the first round of the Region V tournament.
“We played Midland tough and they are ranked ninth in the country. We had a chance,” Sigona said.
Sigona expects three freshmen to return next year, which means another 11 or so new players will be added.
“I think with those guys returning with their experience, they can show leadership and it will help the guys coming in,” he said.
All-Conference Team members from Collin included sophomore Matt Fullenwider and Jaret Von Rosenberg. Freshman Eugene Spates was included on the All-Conference Second Team.
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