Milligan basketball teams gear up for successful seasons

The 2003-2004 Milligan Basketball season could be successful for the Buffalos and Lady Buffs as both teams aim for Applachian Athletic Conference championships.

The Buffalos are led by seniors Jonathon Harris, a 6’2” forward from Spring Valley, Calif., Michael Morrell, a 6’2” guard from Elizabethton, Tenn. and Roy Richmond, a 5’10” guard from Church Hill, Tenn. Harris led the Buffalos last year with an average of 17.8 points per game. He also added 51 steals and 76 assists. Morrell led the team in three pointers with 47 and a free throw percentage of 82 percent. Richmond started every game for Milligan last season.

New faces join the team as well. The transfers are guards Scott Ferguson, a 5’8” junior from Lexington, Ky. and Eric Coggins, a 5’8” junior from Hartford, Tenn. Coming from the high school ranks are Bradley Blair, a 6’7” forward from Greeneville, Tenn., Channing Richardson, a 6’7” forward from Morristown, Tenn. and John Walters, a 6’5” forward from Maineville, Ohio.

Coach Wallingford is looking forward to the season.

“We’re optimistic, nine out of 10 returning players, and the recruits will help us,” Wallingford said. “We hope to challenge for the top spot (in the AAC).”

According to coach Rich Aubrey, the Lady Buffs plan on building on the strength of last year’s finish.

“We finished last season very strong,” Aubrey said. “We had a strong recruiting year, and we hope to ride that momentum into this season.”

Leading the way for Milligan will be Kari Stout, a 5’7” sophomore guard from Hampton, Tenn. who was AAC Freshman of the Year and Second Team All AAC. Stout led the team by averaging 16.3 points per game and scoring 39 percent of her three point shots. Senior Joy Clark, a 5’9” forward from Scottsburg, Ind., led the AAC by shooting 63 percent from the line. Senior Nicky Jessen, a 5’9” forward from Fort Dodge, Iowa, returns to Milligan after missing last season. Jessen is a career 1000-point scorer for the Lady Buffs. Junior Ginny White, a 5’4” junior guard from Butler, Tenn., is returning as the team leader in assists with 101 last season.

New players join the team as well. The Lady Buffs have two transfers, Ann Marie Gardner, a 5’11” junior guard from Black Mountain, N.C. and Leah Seevers, a 6’0” sophomore forward from Glouster, Ohio.  New freshmen players include Kacie Letterman, 5’9” guard from Gray, Tenn., Candace Shelton, a 5’9” forward from Flag Pond, Tenn. and Laura Willett, a 6’1” forward from Greeneville, Tenn.

“We expect to be a deep team,” Aubrey said. “We hope to take advantage of that.”