Moraine Valley women's basketball takes away lessons and conference crown from 2014-15 season

With all their ups and downs this season, the talented Moraine Valley Community College women’s basketball team finished with an Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championship in hand.

After five years, the Cyclones reclaimed the conference championship, sharing the honor with Oakton Community College. Each school finished 11-3 in conference.

A few players received honors for their skills on the court including Nariman Jaber (Argo), who was All-NJCAA Region IV first team and All-Conference first team. She became Moraine Valley’s all-time leader in blocked shots with a career high of 265. She crushed the previous record of 181, and ranked #1 in the NJCAA Division II for most of the season averaging 4.5 blocks per game. Jaber also was ninth in the country for defensive rebounds (205) and 11th for total rebounds (316). Shavonne “Bonnie” Lewis (Eisenhower) and Rachel Ruzevich (Sandburg) joined Jaber on the All-Conference first team. Kailey Foster (Joliet West) was named to the All-Conference second team.

For all their talent, however, the Cyclones finished below their coaches’ expectations. They faltered against teams they should have defeated, such as Morton College in the region quarter finals (Feb. 26), and lost eight games by less than eight points, showing their potential for more wins, said head Coach Delwyn Jones.

Through the struggles, however, players excelled. Sophomore guard Megan Beckow (Evergreen Park) embodied the nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic. She was one of the toughest players under the basket for the Cyclones, despite her shorter stature.

Ruzevich also displayed that hard-working, fighting spirit on the court this season. She was one of the leading scorers and was a tough defender. When in action, you could expect 40 minutes from her with 100 percent effort. She ranked in the top three in every stat category for the Cyclones.

The other two starting sophomores whose presence will be missed are Jaber and Lewis. Jaber was intimidating in the middle with her 6’3” frame. For someone that tall, she ran the floor better than average and scored because of it, something that four-year colleges and universities are looking at to recruit. Lewis was a solid point guard who was the glue to much of the Cyclones’ success. If she didn’t play well, the team followed suit.

Looking to next season, there is a core of skilled returning freshmen including Sharnita Breeze (Argo), McKayla Smith (Andrew) Duneya Shatat (Oak Lawn), Foster and sophomore Carly Trinley (Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences).

“I hope these young ladies learned from their experiences. We got better throughout the season, but not to the point where we needed to be, mentally more than anything,” Jones said. “However, we’re in a good position for next year.”