The term “Sweet 16” is supposed to refer to a girls' mid-teens birthday party. Somebody hijacked it and thought this simple example of of alliteration could be applied to the number of teams remaining in a basketball tournament.
So it is. “Sweet 16” is a shorter way of saying there is no greater reward for all the hard work, all the sweat, all the floor burns and all the tears, than success in the NCAA tournament. The Carthage women's basketball team, for the second time in three seasons, is experiencing those good feelings as they prepare to play during the second weekend of the event.
After the Lady Reds spent last weekend in Greencastle, Ind., dispatching 19th-ranked UW-Whitewater and stunning fourth-ranked DePauw on its home court, they have set up headquarters in Alliance, Ohio. Arriving late Wednesday night, they practice this afternoon, March 8, at the University of Mount Union. Then comes the next big challenge, Friday at 4 p.m. (CST). It is a “Sweet 16” game — which, admittedly, sounds better than the stuffy “sectional semifinal” — of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship against Centre (Ky.) in the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex. The Lady Reds will be trying to reach the “Elite Eight” for the first time.
Seniors Cory Bazany, Allison Groessl, Diana Jacklin, Kiki Phillips, Drewann Pancratz and Dani Ripkey are close to the finish line, close to time they will put on the Carthage uniform for the last time. The Lady Reds could have one game left during this enjoyable NCAA tournament experience. Or two, or three, or four.
Sure, these are good times for the whole team and coaching staff. For Jacklin, one of the most versatile players in the history of the program, who came to Carthage in 2009 after two seasons at Division I Florida Gulf Coast University (she red-shirted her freshman year), this run in the NCAA tournament is just as fulfilling as the one two years ago. That team included seniors Rosie Dorn and Katie Klemke, junior Heather Gilmore and the above mentioned six who were sophomores.
Sweet? Heck yeah!
“Two years ago, it was amazing,” says Jacklin, a unanimous selection this season to the all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin first team. “It was so special. When I talk to the girls about that team, I talk about how we clicked. We had chemistry, and there was something there that was, honestly, indescribable. It was an amazing year and an amazing journey.
“This year, and it may be because it's my senior year, it just seems very, very special. Not to take away anything from what it was two years ago, but just to get to this point and have this happen my senior year, which I'm sure those seniors felt, just like the seniors on this team, it does just seem so special. It's an amazing feeling, and it's one of those things where, no matter what, you try to put it in your control to make sure that it does not end. Because you don't want to see it end.”
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THE TURNING POINT
While this Carthage team does not have a true star, Carthage coach Tim Bernero agrees with the suggestion Jacklin is the face of the program. But Jacklin had to navigate a short period of rough waters this season to earn that CCIW award.
On Dec. 12, Carthage lost to Coe, 63-57, at Tarble Arena. The Lady Reds could not hold a nine-point halftime lead as their record dipped to 6-2.
Jacklin's game totals included nine rebounds, six points, three assists, three steals, two blocked shots and two turnovers. A solid all-around game.
When Jacklin came out of the locker room after the game, it was clear something was amiss. To say she was upset would be a humongous understatement.
“For me, I'd say I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a leader on the court, and to play to the best of my capabilities,” says Jacklin, whose averages in points and rebounds were only a bit off from her two-season standards following the Coe game. “That game it really had really gotten to me, because I didn't have the best game and kind of felt like I should have done a better job. I take responsibility for a lot of that and a lot of things. I just think that comes with me taking on a role as one of the captains (along with Ripkey). That game hit me hard. You saw me in tears. I was really upset.
“It was definitely a turning point for me. After that game I had a total change in my mindset, and I think I did turn it on a little more after that game.”
In the 21 games since Coe, Jacklin is averaging team highs of 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.9 blocked shots — all above her two-year marks. The Lady Reds won a season-high six in a row after Coe, including a 75-68 overtime victory over 14th-ranked UW-River Falls in Las Vegas (During the overtime, Jacklin had four rebounds, three points and two blocked shots).
“I think she felt, with the result of that game, she could have done more, and she felt responsible,” Bernero says of Jacklin's state of mind after Coe. “She was making herself more accountable, and I think that really showed as we went on in approach and other things.
“Sometimes kids get to a point where they don't actually realize where they're at as far as their senior year, or the opportunities left that they have. Maybe that hit her, too. The fact that we had that game kind of under control and at the end we couldn't make plays to finish it, I think she took it very hard and put a lot of responsibility on herself.
“Since that point, she's really not let those kind of situations come up for us.”
Jacklin and Cailee Corcoran, who live off campus, talked back at the house after Coe.
“I don't know if it was an epiphany, but I think the Coe game definitely opened her eyes to a lot of how certain situations needed to be handled,” Corcoran says. “That was a learning game for her, I think, mentally. ... I don't know what clicked, but something clicked, and she played well from there on. I'm not sure if it stemmed from the Coe game or what, but it was obvious. I don't know if I can really explain it exactly, but the Coe game definitely was a trigger for that.”
Says Jacklin: “It came down to me being a leader, not only vocally but through actions as well. Getting everybody on the same page and telling everybody that we are a good team and when we face tough teams like that we all have to be on board, we all have to come together, and none of this can be done by just one of us. I think that was when we all really came together. We all wanted the same outcome. We all wanted to be successful in the conference when it came for that. We all wanted to see ourselves in the postseason.”
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SHE'S ALWAYS THERE TO HELP
Jacklin, who admits to having had jitters when she joined the Lady Reds, has been a tutor to companion post players Cailee Corcoran, Kristi Schmidt and Michelle Wenzel.
“I would say especially as a post, I have learned a lot,” Schmidt says. “She's just such a leader for us. I know coming here, when I watched her play, I saw how she was such a smart player offensively and defensively. She's pushed us so much in practice.”
Jacklin has been especially helpful on the high-low game. When the Lady Reds are able to run that set on a consistent basis, they are nearly unstoppable. That explains, in part, Jacklin's 2.3 assists per game.
“We work on that a lot, looking for the high-low,” Schmidt says. “Di's really good at recognizing when you seal, when you're open, when you only have one person on you. We work on that a lot in practice, with the posts, moving the ball and looking inside.”
Wenzel knows — the hard way — just how proficient Jacklin is.
“Me and Diana are always matched up against each in practice, so I've played against her a ton,” Wenzel says. “Learned a lot from her. We're very similar in body type. I've learned the position.”
Corcoran, having been around longer than Schmidt and Wenzel, benefits most.
“Just playing against her (in practice) has made me a better player, hands down,” Corcoran says. “There's no question about that. She's a great player. She's very skillful. She knows the game well. You learn a lot just by being in her presence and playing with her.
“It helps that she's a great person, too. She's easy to talk to. You can communicate with her. She's just a great teammate.”
The appreciation for Jacklin is not limited to the post players.
“Diana's great,” Ripkey told the Kenosha News. “She's an amazing basketball player, she's a great person, she's a great leader. I think she really sets the standard for our team and everyone tries to get at her level.
“She makes me want to be better, too, so I love playing with her. I think she's probably one of the best people I've played with my whole basketball career.”
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A STRONG RUN GETS EVEN BETTER
As well as Jacklin has played since late December, her numbers are up as the Lady Reds come down the stretch. She has five double-doubles over her last eight games, just missing another in the NCCA opener against UW-Whitewater with 23 points and nine rebounds. In two of the games, she had 19 and 16 rebounds. She has also mixed in games of 26, 23 and 20 points.
Jacklin's all-around game made her, arguably, the best player in the CCIW. She went toe-to-toe — being in direct confrontation or opposition, if you would like the definition — with Olivia Lett of Illinois Wesleyan twice in CCIW play and in the final of the CCIW tournament. Jacklin, who had the defensive assignment on the 6-foot-tall Lett during the school's three meetings this season while Lett did not guard Jacklin, had the advantage in several statistical categories. In no small part because Wesleyan won the conference title, Lett was named the CCIW's most outstanding player. Notice the title: “most outstanding player”. Not “most valuable player”.
Jacklin's versatility can be seen in her final CCIW stats, which were easily good enough to have her voted as a unanimous selection to the all-conference team.
Check them out.
Field goal percentage: First
Total rebounds: First
Defensive rebounds: First
Blocked shots: First
Scoring: Second
Offensive rebounds: Tied for fourth
Steals: Eighth
Assists: Tied for 12th
What should be an everlasting example of Jacklin's versatility came with 1:46 to play against UW-Whitewater, with the Lady Reds holding a 66-60 lead. Jacklin quickly moved from the top of lane to get her left hand on a three-point attempt by Emily Bestor from the left wing. Jacklin snagged the ball before it hit the ground near mid court and drove for a layup to seal the victory.
It did not show up on youtube.com, like Katie Klemke's falling-down, game-winning three-point basket two years ago, but it was every bit as impressive.
“I don't know how many times it's happened,” Jacklin says when asked how often she has accomplished that type of triple play. “There wasn't one as exciting. That one was, for sure, a special one. Blocking shots is always awesome. The ball was just loose there, and honestly, I don't think it registered. Like, 'The ball's right in front of me. Grab it and go.' It was pretty exciting, and it was at a pretty pivotal point in the game. So that was great.”
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A GLIMPSE AT THE FUTURE
Corcoran, Schmidt and Wenzel will be the only returning post / inside players next season. The void left by Jacklin's graduation will be difficult to fill.
“Diana's her own, unique player,” Wenzel says. “No one is going to be able to fill her shoes exactly and play exactly like her. Hopefully we can each step in, put in our part, next year.”
Schmidt “I've definitely thought about that. We have pretty big shoes to fill. We definitely have a lot of talent, so I'm excited for that.”
Corcoran, who will be the lone senior in the starting lineup, is thinking along the same lines as Schmidt and Wenzel.
“I don't know if one individual person can exactly fill those shoes, but I think with a team effort, and playing well with each other, we could kind of ease the vacancy created by her leaving,” Corcoran says. “She's definitely an asset that won't be easily replaced.”
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THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
No matter what happens Friday, and beyond, Jacklin looks at her time at Carthage with nothing but fondness.
“Oh, yeah!” Jacklin says. “Honestly, everything I've taken away with this experience has been amazing. Positive. Happy. Moments of sadness. But everything has been great. No regrets whatsoever.”
Not surprisingly, Jacklin admits being part of the team will be what she misses when there is no longer basketball.
“Having your best friends surrounding you on that team,” Jacklin says. “Getting to play the sport you love, for the past, I don't know how many years.
“That's what I'm going to miss. I know there are things you don't really get back after it's all said and done. That togetherness, and that feeling of being a part of something really special.”
Jacklin makes it clear she and her teammates did not ride close to 500 miles on a Lamers Motorcoach just to get away.
“Going into this next game, obviously we know, just like when we started, that every game was going to be tough,” Jacklin says. “There is no easy game in the NCAA tournament. Every team wants to achieve the same thing we're achieving. We know it's attainable, to win this game, if we put it all together, and play with not only the skills and with the brains, but also with the heart and passion we play with.”
Bernero calls Jacklin a complete player, and then some.
“Some kids score more, and have gaudier numbers,” Bernero says. “Some kids are flashier as they do it. Diana's ability to score and rebound and take on defensive assignments and help break the press and handle the ball and those kind of things, I don't know that there's a lot of teams in the country that have people that they rely on to do that much. She's capable of doing a little of everything, and as a star-type player, she's not a selfish or needy-type player to do things. She just kind of does what you ask her to.
“She's kind of taken charge of the rebounding part of the game, almost to the point where I keep reminding the other girls that you can't just sit there and watch her get 15 rebounds. She's taken that and attacked that, and that might stand out more than any of the numbers that she's had over the last the months.”
“Performance-wise, and how she handles herself, I think she has been what we'd hope for from all the kids that we have come through the program.”
