By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

The Fort Hays State University women's basketball team trailed Avila (Mo.) College by three points late in Sunday's game when senior Ashley Cornett nearly reverted back to last year's mindset under former coach Annette Wiles.

"Games like this when we were down three or if it was tied, a lot of us would hang our heads right away," Cornett, the Tigers' lone senior, said. "This year, we came into one of our timeouts, 'wow this is a better coach, we can still win this.' I had to remind myself to pick my head back up, that it wasn't over."

The Tigers eventually fell to NAIA Avila 71-66, but the impact of new head coach Tony Hobson has been far more positive than Fort Hays' 1-1 record. The Tigers are thin at the post positions, start four guards, don't have much depth and are widely considered to struggle this season, including a last place selection in the preseason conference coaches poll.

But the team enjoys Hobson more than Wiles, a former Fort Hays All-American who left to take the coaching position at University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Hobson, who was a multiple national championship winner at NAIA Hastings (Neb.) College, uses a high tempo game, a sharp contrast to Wiles' half-court offense. Wiles was 12-15 last season and finished with back-to-back ninth place finishes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

"There is a big difference and there is a good difference. There is a will to be able to encourage each player and put us out there in the spots," Cornett said. "I feel like he is a lot smarter of a coach and he has faith in us. I am not sure Coach Wiles really did."

Fort Hays will see its first home game tonight against NAIA foe Bethany College, the third straight NAIA squad the Tigers have played this year. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

Fort Hays is 8-2 in its last 10 meetings versus Bethany.

This past weekend, the Tigers showed signs of brilliance in two games against Tabor College and Avila at the Lady Hornet Classic in Emporia State University. Against Tabor, Fort Hays had a 14-2 run and a 20-0 burst, while it yielded a 17-0 run versus Avila.

In both games, the Tigers also let the opponent back in the game.

Avila even cut an 18-point Tiger lead and pulled off the win. After the Tabor victory, junior Naomi Bancroft said "everyone is a freshman again" as they adjust to a new system.

"As far as our defense, we just have to be more mentally tough," Bancroft said. "This game, there was a time when our defense was OK and there were times when there were big time lapses and that is when they made their runs. When our offense starts to slack off, we can't let our defense slack off with it."

The system will likely take more time - but the adjustment to Hobson has been well-received. Hobson has allowed his players plenty of freedom on the floor and has shown confidence in the squad.

The Tigers, especially Bancroft, rely heavily on the 3-point shot. Under Hobson, players are allowed to fire, even from long range. Bancroft, freshman Talia Miller and junior Audra Binford were among those who took - and made - multiple 3s. Bancroft averaged 20.5 points per game and was named to the all-tournament team.

"I like to give them some basic stuff, keep the floor spread, push the ball, hit the open man, be unselfish, just some basic things," Hobson said. " Shooters shoot the ball a lot better if they have the green light and don't have it in the back of their head should I be taking this shot or not. I think they feel like there is a little more freedom."

Hobson, known for his self-deprecating humor in interviews, has also used his personality to connect with the players. While Wiles was known for yelling often, Hobson has picked his spots - another big difference for the Tigers.

"When he yells at you, you know it means something," Bancroft said. "It is not just someone yelling all the time. It makes a big difference. You listen when he talks."

Cornett plays well

As a junior, Cornett played in all 27 games for Fort Hays. She averaged just nine minutes a night, had one start, one double-figure scoring game and averaged 2.1 points. A year later, she is one of five returning Tigers- and has moved into a starting role.

"She is really the only person on our team that can get to the basket off of the dribble and she can get out in front of the defense sometimes in transition," Hobson said.

Cornett has started both games and averaged 10.5 points per game in the tournament. That included a career-high 13 versus Avila, including nine in the second half that kept Fort Hays in the game.

"As a senior and as one of the leaders, I just wanted to take charge," she said. "I look forward to being able to do it hopefully every game."

From time to time, Hobson will even direct the offense through Cornett and let her speed take over. She scored several times in transition and finished with four steals in the tourney, two off the team-high.

"If you put her in the right situation and put her in the right place on the floor and give her a little room she can make some things happen," Hobson said. "You don't want to do it all the time, but in special situations, you can just (clear) a side of the floor for her and just tell her to go. That is what we did twice. She made six straight points right there and defensively they couldn't shut them down."

Injury update

Junior forward Erica Biel, who produced a 17-point, 17-rebound game in the win versus Tabor, had shoulder surgery last April and Hobson said "she couldn't do anything until the fall." Junior guard Kayla Klug also had shoulder and finger surgery in the off-season and missed time.

"Those two probably aren't where they are going to be," Hobson said.

Bancroft has battled a knee, problems that could hurt a small Tiger roster that plays just 10 players.

"We are just going to have to keep our kids as fresh as possible with our depth situation," Hobson said. "We are just going to try and be intelligent about it."