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Bellbrook grad a passing fancy at Sinclair

Averaging 9 assists per game last season, the sophomore is taking more shots this season.

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By Dave Long, Contributing Writer 5:43 PM Saturday, January 23, 2010

DAYTON — Jana Gross can be a little more selfish and take some shots this season.

During the 2008-09 women’s basketball season at Sinclair Community College, shooters were at a premium. So the role Gross assumed was that of a passer.

And she did it well, leading the nation’s Division II junior colleges in assists at 9.0 per game.

This season, the assists for the 5-foot-4 sophomore point guard from Bellbrook are down to 4.5 while her points are up to 5.0.

“The makeup of the team is a lot different this year,” she said. “We have a lot better shooting team and more players who can play the point.

“So the assists and scoring are more evenly distributed. Leading the nation last year in assists was pretty cool.

“It was a good feeling to get the ball to someone in a position where they could finish.”

Through 14 games, Sinclair was 11-3 overall, 1-1 in Ohio Junior College Athletic Conference play.

Gross is second in the conference in assists.

She is shooting 60 percent from 3-point range, third in the conference.

“I spent most of the summer and fall working on my shooting,” Gross said. “I did a lot of work in the weight room to get my legs stronger.

“I feel like I have better shooting range from the outside and I have a quicker first step driving to the basket because I’m stronger.”

On second thought

Gross didn’t see herself playing college basketball as a senior in high school.

“I thought volleyball was my best sport,” she said. “I had a couple of colleges I was talking to. I really never thought about basketball.

“(Sinclair women’s coach Jeff) Dillion was at one of our basketball games scouting someone else from another team.

“I had a pretty good game and he asked me after the game if I was going anyplace for basketball. I told him I wasn’t, so he began recruiting me.”

Gross admits she wasn’t aware Sinclair had a women’s basketball program and had not heard of most of the schools Sinclair plays.

“I just knew Sinclair was a community college downtown,” she said. “So my parents and I started to learn more about the women’s basketball program and the school and we liked it.”

Making the grade

Gross is carrying a 3.4 grade-point average in business. She hopes to continue her basketball career at a four-year college. Her top choice is Kentucky Wesleyan University in Owensboro, Ky.

“What surprised me is the level of competition in the junior colleges,” she said. “There’s a lot of girls out there who can really play. It’s a lot faster and a lot more physical than I expected.”

Gross was Sinclair’s Player of the Week for Jan. 4 with nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals along with three points in a blowout of Lorain Community College near Cleveland.

Contact this writer with story ideas at davelong299@hotmail.com.

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