ST JOSEPH, Mo. – The Lions women basketball team may have averaged a low attendance this season, but at every one of them, a certain group was sure to be in the crowd.
Jack Euwer, Hoyle Julian, Ann Julian, Andrew Kohn, Tina Kohn, Mel Kohn, Tasha Anders and Charles Nash traveled to St. Joseph, Mo., to keep cheering their Lions on.
Lions guard Dawn Montgomery’s parents and a few more Lion faithful came to watch the Lions take down the South Central Regional Championship.
President Dr. Keith McFarland and Interim Provost Dr. Frank Ashley brought their wives down to the championship game to watch the finale as well.The long road trip lasted about eight hours for the group that took a van down to the tournament.
Before the players left on Wednesday, March 7, the crew brought the Lions a goody bag and about 15 people sent the team off.
“The girls were surprised, they couldn’t believe it,” said Ann Julian. “They couldn’t be sweeter.”
The low attendance that watches the home games is not something that this group is proud of.
“We need more people, students and the community to come,” said Julian. “The kids are so appreciative. There should have been buses come up here.”
It has been said people don’t want to come watch games of a losing team, but this team is not losing anymore. This team has won a program best 11 games in a row, won the Lone Star Conference and are moving on to the Elite Eight for the first time in the 35-year history of women’s basketball at Commerce.
The consensus decision among them is that every Lion player on this team is their favorite. “The girls are so good, we wouldn’t want to give credit to just one,” the group agreed.
They were definitely able to choose which game was their favorite this season, though, and that game was when the Lions were able to beat West Texas A&M in the Lone Star Conference Championship game.
Whether it’s win, lose or draw, these fans support the Lions athletics in volleyball, soccer and football.
“People like to see a winner,” said Hoyle Julian. “It’s more fun when you win.”
After getting past this South Central Region, the Lions will be traveling to Kearney, Neb., where this group will be there to cheer on their Lions.
“Go Lions,” said the fans. “We want them to win, win, win, go far and we will all be there.”