Jordan seeking a turnaround

Like most others, Dave McConnell thought he knew what he was getting himself into when he became a head coach.

After spending years as an assistant at Alta and then Jordan, McConnell was promoted to the Beetdiggers' head coaching position after longtime coach Hal Hale retired following the 2002-03 season.

He quickly found out, though, that the job of getting high school players to compete well and play consistently for four quarters can be agonizing.

This year's preseason was a perfect example.

After starting the year 4-1, McConnell thought his team was well on its way to a successful campaign. Instead, it lost five of six remaining preseason games en route to a disappointing 5-6 nonregion record.

"It's consuming," he said. "I don't think I realized as an assistant coach how consuming it is.

"You try to change the lineup, the defense, the press. You try to come up with new offensive plays—you do anything to try and develop consistency."

Inconsistency was the major factor behind Jordan's struggles during the preseason. Often, they played well enough to win games, only to have a key lapse at the wrong moment cost the Beetdiggers a victory.

"Most of these games," said McConnell, "we've been in it right at the end. . . . As of yet, we haven't put together a complete game."

Jordan's lineup has been anchored by senior point guard Chris Cassity, who is the Beetdiggers' only returning varsity performer.

Cassity has been Jordan's floor general while averaging 12.91 points per game.

"He's just an excellent passer," said McConnell. "Some of our guys will get faked out by his passes . . . I love watching him play. I love watching him pass."

The Beetdiggers have three other seniors who have rotated through the starting lineup — forward Jeff Christenson, center Chandler Burgon and forward Cody Larson.

Juniors Chase Richards and Derek Soderborg have also started games. Richards leads Jordan offensively with 14.55 PPG.

With Jordan's Region 2 schedule beginning tonight at home against Skyline, McConnell hopes his team can notch a win and get the Beetdiggers' season back on track.

He believes away games have been another factor to Jordan's losing streak. The five losing games were played away from home, and tonight's contest with Skyline will be the Beetdiggers' first home game in exactly a month.