Coyote Basketball Mid-Season Report
 

It’s been a few years since the Weatherford College Coyotes experienced competing in the NJCAA Region V Basketball Tournament.
 
But with a new head coach (who’s actually been around for a long time), hopes are high for a return to the event for the first time in four seasons.
 
The Coyotes come off the Christmas break with a 6-6 record. Bob McKinley (who has coached WC’s women’s team since 1978) is back doing double duty and is optimistic his team can break the drought.
 
"Larry (Holman, assistant coach) and I both feel that way," said McKinley. "We’ve got a chance to be in the top four."
 
The top four teams in the conference advance to regionals. Last season the Coyotes were 13-14 overall and 4-10 in the league.
 
McKinley said the loss of leading scorer Chris Anderson (broken foot against Midland in the final game before break) will make the first couple weeks or so of conference play even more challenging. But if the team can hold its own, his return will help with a postseason push.
 
The Coyotes’ losses include defeats to always tough Kilgore by nine points and Lon Morris (by nine points and five points), Western Texas twice by eight, and Midland by 17. In their victories, Weatherford is averaging 105 points compared to 74 for their opponents.
 
"Hopefully that schedule will have us ready for conference," said McKinley.
 
McKinley said that a late start in recruiting due to the coaching changes hasn’t resulted in a hindrance.
 
"Once we got our coaching situation settled, we got some pretty good players," he said.
 
As for the teams to beat in the conference, McKinley admits they are McLennan (12-2) and Collin County (11-3), but after that things get pretty close. The best record among the rest belongs to Ranger (8-5) and Temple is 7-6.
 
"It’s a pretty tight race, and we’re in the hunt," said McKinley. 

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by Rick Mauch