Muleskinner

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Drew Woolery: Muleskinner Freshmen guards Kelce Goebel (left and bottom) and Kara Fleming are ready to take the MIAA by storm together. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Drew Woolery: Muleskinner "In college you have to WORK HARDER for everything you get," Goeble said, [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Drew Woolery: Muleskinner Jennies' guard Kelce Goebel. [Click to enlarge]

They are from two different states, two different backgrounds, and they pick up a basketball for two different reasons.

However, UCM freshman guards Kara Fleming and Kelce Gobel have one thing in common: Their love of basketball.

"I started playing basketball in third grade on a recreational team and then started AAU ball in fifth grade," Goebel said. "I think my dad played a huge role in my basketball career. He would spend hours with me in the driveway shooting and playing with me. He would even go and watch my practices, and then we would work on whatever he picked out in the driveway."

"It's a family tradition to play basketball," Fleming said. "My dad played at UNO and both my older brothers played in college. I grew up with a basketball around me every week. I have learned so much from watching my brothers, along with the one-on-one games we had throughout the years, and it still goes on."

The two Jennies have been pulled together in an unconventional way, and have a bond that most people don't usually see in freshmen that just met each other less than 7 months ago.

Yet, coming to UCM to play basketball is not the first time these two athletes met.

In 2007, the two met on the court, not as teammates, but as rivals in the Missouri-Kansas All-Star Game.

Now that the girls are teammates, they act more like sisters than anything. With such a close friendship, comes a lot of trust and understanding.

"Their friendship has absolutely helped them on the court although they do compete against each other, they are very supportive of one another," said coach Dave Slifer. "We found a way to channel that competitiveness by playing them together, and using their synergy to raise the level of our team's play."

When the girls are not competing at practice, their bond shows in a way most fans do not see.

Although competition is one thing they walk out of practice with, the girls are learning and evolving as players.

"I have learned many things from Kelce," Fleming said, "but the most important one is how much I can trust her. I can always count on her on and off the court."

Goebel said she feels the same way.

"Kara is just a hard-nosed player. When she hurt her shoulder, I asked her what she thinks about when she is getting ready to go into a game," Goebel said. "She told me she acts like she is mad at the other team, and then she really wants to beat them. That is the attitude I walk out on the court with now that I have something to prove."

"Kara and Kelce have both gained confidence throughout the year," Slifer said. "They have tailored their skills to fit into our team concept, and have adjusted to the quicker pace of the college game. Each has different skills they bring to the table, but the most impressive area in their development is what they have learned from each other."

Since the start of the MIAA conference season, Fleming has started in 11 of the 15 games and is averaging 11 points per game.

Fleming also scored a career-high 23 points in the win Saturday over Missouri Western that clinched the Jennies a bid in the MIAA tournament postseason.

Goebel has started 12 games during the conference season and is averaging eight points per game, while being second on the team in assists this season with 54. Goebel's career-high in points this year was 15 in a win over Pitt State.

Since the two entered the starting lineup for the Jennies, the team has improved from being the last place team in the MIAA to being sixth place entering Saturday's season finale. For Slifer, the future of Jennies' basketball at the guard position will rest on the shoulders of Fleming and Goebel.

"Kara started the year off with energy and passion, and once Kelce got a little more confident, she followed in her path. They bring energy, and both are always giving it 110 percent," said senior guard Stephanie Cook. "Their love of the game will be their biggest strength and they will get stronger mentally and physically. Their ability to play off each other makes them solid and their relentless attitude keeps them coming after the other team again and again."

However, all their confidence on the court did not come easy for the two.

Being freshman starters on a collegiate team comes with hard work and a lot of determination.

"I could never imagine this season playing out the way it has," Fleming said. "I am honored to be starting as a freshman."

Making the transition from high school to college was not easy.

The girls had to adjust to a faster-paced game, much more competition to be the best and fight for a starting spot on the team.

"High school was a whole different game than college," Goebel said. "In high school I was the best player on the court most of the time, and honestly, I did not have to work as hard to be good.

"In college you have to work harder for everything you get, whether it's good defense or taking a good shot."

While both girls have a wall full of awards from high school, they soon hope to have a wall full of college honors to go along side them.

However, in this fast-pace life of basketball, these two friends are just touching the surface of what's yet to come.

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