Where do the Neosho County Panthers women go from here?
That’s what head coach J.J. Davis spent the offseason pondering after a second straight ticker-tape campaign punctuated by a home playoff loss in the first round.
“The last three or four years, we’ve had high highs. We’ve been ranked and won a lot of games,” Davis said. “But when you lose two times in the first round of the playoffs when you’re not supposed to lose, if you’re trying to grow the program, you’ve got to deep dive. This year, we decided we’re going to make the toughest schedule in Division II women’s basketball. That’s what we went out and did.”
Building a rugged non-conference schedule loaded with Division I opponents is Davis’ answer.
“We know we can beat JVs. So we wanted to play more Division I JUCOs to help us be ready for better teams,” Davis said. “Some of the teams that we beat, we developed bad habits in those games. I looked at the rest of the league and realized we’d have to be better. This is the best junior college conference in the country. I’ll debate anybody on that. We’ve made Neosho County a team where you have to beat us. Now we have to take that next step.”
The Panthers begin this season ranked No. 16 in the NJCAA Division II preseason poll.
Neosho County’s first-semester slate includes the likes of Lamar, Redlands, Hutchinson, Eastern Oklahoma State and Connors State.
There are no JVs on the schedule.
“We’ve built a culture to serve first,” Davis said. “That means it’s not always pretty. Would they rather feel the pain of regret in the first semester or in the first round of the playoffs? That’s our message.”
Riverton native Chloe Parker is the Panthers’ leading returning scorer after averaging 9.2 points per game in her first year. Parker, who platooned the point guard and shooting guard roles last winter, will move to the two-guard spot this year.
“That gives her more freedom to get more shots,” Davis said. “She’s had a really good fall. She doesn’t know who’s good and who isn’t. She just comes out and competes every day. She’s our captain this year. We rely on her a lot. How we play will come down to her energy. I’m confident she’ll keep us afloat.”
Jaida Harris, who averaged 5.5 points and 5.6 rebounds, is a staple in the paint.
Azura Clark, after posting 10 minutes of action a night as a freshman, looks to reinforce the interior.
“She’s taken that point forward role,” Davis said. “We play a unique style, so Azura is really good for that. She does a lot of good things. She’ll knock down shots. It’s nice having familiar faces back.”
Lelani Carter, a sophomore from Omaha, Nebraska, brings tenacity to the perimeter.
“She’s in a really big competition this year,” Davis said. “She’s had to do a lot of self-reflecting and a lot of growth. She answered the bell. She’s an elite defender and that’s going to help her.”
Davis has high hopes for another Omaha native, freshman guard Jayla Wilson.
“She’s got a chance to be one of the best guards we’ve ever had,” Davis said. “That word potential sucks. The sky is the limit, but it’s what she’ll allow for herself. If she continues to develop, she’ll be really special.”
Bauke Graulus, a Belgian, is another first-year player expected to make an immediate impact.
“She’s been in our system and knows it really well after redshirting last year,” Davis said. “We’re not as flashy as we’ve been the last four years. We’re more gritty. She’ll help us find ways to generate points.”
Others on the roster for the Panthers include Shinie Suzuki (Fort Worth, Texas), Desiree Williams (Fort Worth, Texas), Maila Tashiro (Japan), Jaida Harris (Commerce, Texas), Samantha Lecas (Ormond Beach, Florida), Sophia Mireles (Houston), Kaozong Yang (Henryetta, Oklahoma), Micaela Reyes (Chelsea, Oklahoma), Janae Davis (Mansfield, Texas), Azariah Polk (Arlington, Texas), Jessica Houston (Omaha, Nebraska), Ta’Neah Jones (Mesquite, Texas), Dagmara Kacprazak (Belgium), Laynie Winfrie (Eureka), Divine Brown (Mansfield, Texas), Maria Beatriz (Portugal), Joelle Judran (Israel) and Karisa Latcher (Washington, Missouri).
“When this team is connected, they’re really good,” Davis said. “We’ve made subtle changes that I can’t talk about out loud. But we go deep this year. Our schedule is part of that mindset.”
Neosho County is tabbed third in the KJCCC Division II preseason poll.
Johnson County was picked as the favorite to win the league, followed by Allen, Neosho County, Kansas City Kansas, Fort Scott, Highland and Labette.
“We’re going to be ready,” Davis said. “We’re not ready now because we’ve got a lot of young girls. The last few years, we’ve had a lot of elite scorers that were sophomores coming back. That’s not the case this year. With the way we play, it takes more than one. I want to host a playoff game again this year.”
Neosho County starts the 2025-26 season on Friday in Pratt against Lamar.
