Rachel Semansky

[urcrackinmeup]

Former Mountaineer Semansky Reaching New Heights in Big Sky
Great Falls Tribune Jan 28, 2012

Editor's Note: Rachel Semansky led Highwood to a pair of State C girls' basketball championships and was named Great Falls Tribune Super-State in both hoops and volleyball during a brilliant high school career. The Mountaineers were 102-7 in basketball during her prep career and the 6-foot Semansky is now helping the Montana State Bobcats enjoy significant success in the Big Sky Conference. The junior forward was an all-Big Sky choice a year ago and entered Saturday's game averaging 14 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. The latter figure ranks second in the conference. Semansky, who last week was named league player of the week, visited with us recently for our Sunday Conversation.

Sports Editor Scott Mansch

Question: What are your expectations for this year's Bobcats?

Answer: I definitely think the sky is the limit. I believe in our team. I believe we can be the best in the conference and win the Big Sky and get to the NCAA Tournament. I also think we can get a lot better.

Question: In what ways do you feel improvement is needed from this team?

Answer: Just being consistent on taking care of the ball, on keeping the game simple and playing within ourselves. We can improve our rebounding, for sure.

Question: How can you 'keep the game simple?'

Answer: We tend sometimes to try to make things a lot more difficult than they need to be, whether by making the hard pass or trying to force it inside when it's not there.

Question: Last year the Bobcats got off to a fine start in league play and then fizzled a bit down the stretch. Does that memory linger a little bit?

Answer: It's in the past and it should be behind us, because this is a different team and a different season. But it's always in the back of your mind. We realize we didn't quite get to where we needed to be. We started good but didn't finish well. That's definitely on our minds, and we don't want to let it happen again.

Question: You are having your best year, aren't you?

Answer: I don't know (laughs). I haven't really looked at my stats. I don't like to worry about them ... I'm trying my hardest and trying to do my best for my team.

Question: What are your main individual goals in a game?

Answer: Rebounding, for sure. And being a good post defender.

Question: What is the biggest adjustment from going to Class C ball to the Big Sky?

Answer: I would say the pace of game and the physicality on the defensive end. It's much different.

Question: You had such a great prep career. Do you feel like it prepared you for the Big Sky?

Answer: I definitely learned a lot my first year in college, but I had great coaches in high school, too.

Question: Some people may have had doubts about your ability to make an impact in the Big Sky. Is it in your mindset to prove people wrong?

Answer: No. I always wanted to play for MSU. It was my dream. When I initially didn't think it was going to happen, I looked at some Frontier Conference schools. But I'm really glad to be where I am.

Question: It must have been a thrill to be offered a scholarship by the Bobcats, right?

Answer: It was pretty crazy. I was shocked, to say the least. I knew the minute they called I was going to say yes.

Question: It's been a good decision, right?

Answer: I've never regretted it.

Question: College basketball is like a job, isn't it? How does one deal with the grind of the season?

Answer: You just have to keep mentally preparing yourself. You have to work hard all the time and come to practices and games wanting to do your best. I know it doesn't work for everybody. But that's my mindset.

Question: There is always talk of 'chemistry' playing a key role on any basketball team. How do you get along with your teammates in Bozeman?

Answer: Our team is great, We have a lot of Montana kids and I got to know a lot of them before I got here. All of us very similar, and we definitely mesh well together.

Question: Next Saturday is the season's first Bobcat-Grizzly weekend. Are you already looking forward to that?

Answer: It's very special when Cat-Griz rolls around. I always look forward to them. I feel the whole state gets excited for it. It's cool.

Question: You certainly had a great high school career. That must make you proud, right?

Answer: We got lucky. We had a lot of girls who had been playing together for a long time and really wanted it.

Question: You still have that desire to exceed, don't you?

Answer: Desire is definitely important. Sometimes when kids get older they don't love the game anymore. It's always been there for me, I still like doing the workouts and everything that is associated with basketball.

Question: You have to be proud of your accomplishments, right?

Answer: The main thing is, I feel like my ability is a gift from God. I want to honor Him and do the best that I can.

Question: What are you studying and what career path do you want to take?

Answer: I'm studying elementary education. Hopefully I will teach and maybe coach basketball. I want to stay in Montana, definitely.

Question: What's been the top highlight of your college career so far?

Answer: Winning at Dahlberg Arena (in Missoula) two years in a row is really big.

Question: What did you think of being named all-Big Sky a year ago?

Answer: It's cool to be recognized. I definitely surprised myself.

Question: You don't focus on yourself too much, do you?

Answer: I have a lot of confidence in my teammates. I definitely did in high school, for sure. I don't try to think too much about myself. No one's perfect, and I know that. If you think you're too good and you rest in that, you're going to fail.


Question: How do you think you might improve as a basketball player?

Ansewr: There's always room for improvement. I would say I'm not completely comfortable on the perimeter. I'm a lot more confident and more used to playing around the basket. There are lots of other things I can do better: Leadership, helping my teammates more and stuff like that.

Question: Do many folks from your hometown come to the Montana State games?

Answer: All my family comes, especially my mom (Lisa) and dad (Monk). We always have our own little Highwood section (laughs). It's been great. There are a lot of people here that I went to high school with, and it's really nice to have that support.

Question: When you were growing up in Highwood did you ever wish you were in Great Falls, where you could play at a bigger school and against large-school teams?

Answer: No. My mom even said that once, wondering if we should have moved into Great Falls. But I had such a special experience in Highwood and was lucky to be on such a special team. I definitely wouldn't have traded it for anything.

[bozbobcat]

I always enjoy reading stories like this. It seems like Rachel has a great head on her shoulders, which will serve her well on and off the court. It seems like the whole women's team has this quality, which makes them quite easy to root for. I'm looking forward to seeing how far she'll go in her Bobcat career. It's a big week for the team.

[WyomingGrizFan]

Hardly even heard of her while she was in hs. Damn good player, one of the better ones in the BSC. Shoulda been a Griz.