By FRANK CASH

Herald-Whig Sports Writer

Alyssa Duffy was a workout warrior during the offseason.

Not long after the John Wood Community College women's basketball team wrapped up its season last March, Duffy was in the weight room everyday at 6:30 a.m.

"That's the time that worked out best for me," said Duffy, a sophomore forward. "It takes a commitment if you want to get better."

After a day of classes, Duffy and her teammates would return to the Student Activity Center that afternoon for scrimmaging, conditioning or whatever else was on the agenda.

Once the spring semester was over, most of the players stayed in Quincy for at least part of the summer rather than go home.

All of this was done with the upcoming season and the goal of winning JWCC's first-ever Region 24 title in mind.

"They worked their tails off," said Lady Blazers coach Norm Rodriguez, whose team opens its season Wednesday at Lake Land. "They got in here, focused on fundamentals, shooting and anything they felt they needed to do to be better players. They worked on the little things which hopefully, will make us a better team."

The players Rodriguez returns could make this JWCC's best sophomore class since 2001-02 when Johanna Stephens, Kelly Quigle and Brooke Getz led the team.

Last winter, Devin Wombles and Sam O'Brien shared the point guard duties, while Emily Lay started on the wing and Randi Gronewold started at the other forward spot.

Duffy was the first player off the bench and 6-foot-1 Hillary Held was a backup pot player. Don't forget about guards Kirsten Johnson, Megan Sorrill and Taryn Dustman, who were productive off the bench.

"People made a big deal about our recruiting class when we came in because of all the names and because most of us are from the area," said Duffy, who led Unity to its first-ever girls basketball regional championship in 2008. "You still have to come in, learn how to play college basketball and learn to play with each other. The fact that we're used to each other should help a lot."

As well as what to expect in the program.

"That makes it easier," said Gronewold, an Illini West graduate. "It was neat to come in and play a lot as a freshman. But now we know we need to step it up and be ready to play at the end of the season."

The Lady Blazers stumbled at the end of last season, slipping to a No. 5 seed for the Region 24 Tournament. Hitting the road for the tournament opener, JWCC lost to an old nemesis -- Illinois Central.

It left most of the players wondering what might've been. It's motivated all of the players -- sophomores and freshmen -- for this season.

"We have to steadily improve all season and be playing our best basketball at the end of the season," said Wombles, a Pleasant Hill native. "We need to be clicking on all cylinders. Hopefully, our experience can help with that."

So can leadership.

"One of the biggest things our sophomores can do is provide leadership for our freshmen," Rodriguez said. "We've got players who can do that and we've got some who are great when it comes to leading by example. It's a good mix."

It may lead to even more players spending early mornings in the weight room.

— sports@whig.com/221-3365