Kelsey Oddis and her team got sick of waiting. They were more than ready to get back to normal and get back to basketball.
Oddis, who is in her second year — but first full season — as Pitt-Greensburg’s women’s basketball coach, took over the program shortly before finding out her first season would be drastically shortened because of covid-19.
The Bobcats played five games last year — all in March — and went 4-1 in those contests.
“You definitely had to be flexible,” said Oddis, who is also the school’s cross country coach. “You never knew what was going to happen from day to day. You had to be able to adjust to things and be pretty creative with your practices.”
Through the first two games of 2021-22, Oddis likes what she has seen from her team.
Pitt-Greensburg won a season-opening contest over Franciscan, 56-43, and followed that with a 57-46 triumph over Carlow.
“Everyone is super excited to be back on the court in a normal setting,” she said. “I’ve been really impressed with our squad. They’re really receptive to things in the game, especially at halftime. They take in what we have to say and make the adjustment in the second half.”
What’s been working for the Bobcats?
“Our depth and our bench,” Oddis said. “We have a lot of people that can plug and play in different spots. No matter what five are on the court, I can trust them to get things done.
“And our experience. We have a lot of kids back who have played for a while. They know the game and mesh well.”
The Bobcats do have a definite leader. Nadege Durand, the AMCC’s preseason co-player of the year, scored 15 points per game and grabbed 10 rebounds per game two years ago.
Through the first two games of this season, Durand averaged 17.5 points and 14.0 rebounds. Against Carlow, the 5-foot-7 guard scored 18 points and grabbed 20 rebounds.
“She’s just a go-getter,” Oddis said. “She’s just one of those kids that you put on the floor, and she’s going to give her all for 40 minutes. She’s really crafty with her game.
“She works hard for all of her success. She sees the ball, and she wants it. That’s part of her motor.”
Beyond Durand, the Bobcats’ cupboard is pretty full with veteran players. Junior point guard Sidney McCully brings a stabilizing presence to the court. She put up 22 points over the first two games.
“If I had 12 of her, I’d be the happiest person in the world,” Oddis said. “I could leave her on the court for 40 minutes and she’s going to do what I ask, no matter what.”
Seniors Shaquoia McCray and Maddie Sitler add the experience of the group. McCray averaged more than nine points and nine rebounds two years ago, and Sitler scored more than 11 per game as the Bobcats finished 17-10.
“Those four are a solid foundation for us,” Oddis said.
This year, Pitt-Greensburg was picked third in the AMCC preseason poll behind La Roche and Penn State Behrend.
“That’s a good spot for us,” Oddis said. “It motivates myself and the players to want to achieve higher. Winning a championship has been their mindset the last two years.”