WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Zinermon sells NCCC out of state

Sports

November 9, 2009

By Jonah Bronstein The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Mon Nov 09, 2009, 11:29 PM EST

SANBORN — Winter is still a rumor to Kierra Jackson. Growing up in Pledger, Texas, she had no use for a heavy coat, or waterproof boots.

Soon she will. Jackson left the Southwest for Sanborn this fall to come play for new Niagara County Community College women’s basketball coach Kirk Zinermon, who has used the Internet’s infinite wingspan to extend NCCC’s recruiting reach.

Jackson, a 6-foot-1 center who set school records for rebounds and blocked shots and was vote all-region as a senior, is one of five out-of-state recruits on the Trailblazers’ roster.

Previewing the season at last week’s media luncheon, Zinermon singled out Jackson; Kylie Noble, a guard from Columbus, Ohio; Amber Williams, a forward from Altoona, Pa.; and Mary Antone, a guard from London, Ont., before mentioning his top two local recruits, Emily Bird (Niagara Catholic) and Karissa Dolney (Tonawanda).

Athletics director Lee Wallace said the out-of-state players are going to solidify the program so that Zinermon can have a better chance at recruiting locals. Zinermon indicated that he’s got “a ton” of local players showing interest in joining the Trailblazers next season.

“You can be a mediocre coach and a great recuriter and still have success at this level,” Wallace said.

Zinermon developed his coaching skills over the past decade with boys and girls teams on the AAU circuit. Before joining NCCC as an assistant last season, he spent three years as the junior varsity coach at St. Mary’s of Lancaster, leading the team to an undefeated season in 2006.

“I think we’re going to do something special this season, I really do,” Zinermon said. “We’re going to do things that people on the outside thought we weren’t going to do. The girls coming in here are highly-skilled, very talented and committed.”

Jackson is thinking the same thing. “Even though the team wasn’t good last year, I thought, with the new coach and all, I could up here and we’ll have a good year,” she said.

Twins Margo and Taylor Pagano are the only returning starters, but they won’t join the team after this weekend’s National Junior College Athletic Association Division III national championship tournament.

“If we work on our defense a little more, I think we’ll be a good team,” Noble said. “And with our captains coming in from volleyball, we’ll be even better.”

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.

SEASON PRIMER

NCCC women’s basketball

• COACH: Kirk Zinermon, first year

• LAST SEASON: 3-20, 0-10 WNYAC

• KEY RETURNERS: G Margo Pagano, G Taylor Pagano

• KEY ADDITIONS: C Kierra Jackson, G/F Kylie Noble, F Amber Williams, G/F Mary Antone, G/F Emily Bird (Niagara Catholic), G/F Karissa Dolney (Tonawanda)

Home Schedule

• TODAY: Finger Lakes, 5:30 p.m.

• SATURDAY: Corning, noon

• DEC. 10: Pitt-Titusville, 5:30 p.m.

• DEC. 12: Tompkins-Cortland, 1 p.m.

• JAN. 19: Erie, 5:30 p.m.

• JAN. 26: Jamestown, 5:30

• FEB. 9: Mercyhurst NE, 5:30 p.m.

• FEB. 16: Genesee, 5:30 p.m.

• FEB. 20: Alfred State, 1 p.m.

Text Only

Sports

Wolverines tame the Lions
Three Niagara Falls Wolverines players hit double-figures in Thursday’s 74-45 Niagara Frontier League boys basketball win over visiting Lockport on “Senior Night” in the Wolvearena.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Running miles for acres
Runners of all shapes and sizes will run 10 miles for 52 acres of land this weekend at the 2012 YMCA/Camp Kenan Y-10 race downtown.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Miller, Sabres blank the Bruins
With Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff nursing three broken ribs and watching from the press box, goalie Ryan Miller made 36 saves to earn his second shutout in three games in a 6-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Roy-Hart swimmers dominated
Pictured are members of the Royalton-Hartland boys varsity swim team, which recently captured its sixth straight Niagara-Orleans League title and swept the annual league meet in Akron by winning every event. From left, first row, are Josh Beabout, Kurtis Parker, Roy Phipps and Zach Yates; second row, Cody Jones, Luke Brauer and Patrick Jones; third row, Jason Beabout and Lyle Wagner.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Syracuse beats Georgetown in OT, 64-61
Kris Joseph scored a career-high 29 points, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of overtime, and No. 2 Syracuse beat 12th-ranked Georgetown 64-61 on Wednesday night to give coach Jim Boeheim his 880th career win.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Lions sweep Lewiston-Porter
It was a full moon and the vampires and werewolves were out in the Lady Lions Den.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo
Cotto training in Lockport
Professional boxer and World Boxing Organization Lightweight champion of the world Jose Miguel Cotto (32-2-1) has chosen Lockport as his training camp for his upcoming fight with Jose Luis Castillo (63-11-1) on March 24 in Houston Texas.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo
Roy-Hart dominates boys all-League swm meet
Undefeated (10-0) regular-season champion Royalton-Hartland dominated the competition Tuesday taking first place in all 11 events at the 2012 Niagara-Orleans League boys individual swim championships.

February 7, 2012
Ruff stuff
As if the Buffalo Sabres haven't endured enough injuries already this season. Add coach Lindy Ruff to the list.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
Super Bowl draws record viewers on NBC
For the third consecutive year, the Super Bowl set a record as the most-watched television show in U.S. history.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
More Sports Headlines

Sports

Search Results

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Zinermon sells NCCC out of state

Site Map

Contact Us