Listen to Jimmie Basketball at the NAIA Championships
NewsDakota.com/Ingstad Family Media will be broadcasting the Jimmie Basketball games live from the NAIA National Championships. Thursday's round one action for the Jimmie women can be found on FM 103.1 in Jamestown or by clicking here.
Pregame show begins at 1:30 pm.
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For the last seven years, if there's been a Blue Jay or Jimmie girls basketball team, there's a good chance Amber Ramlo was involved in it.
After finishing her three-year varsity career at Jamestown High School, Ramlo bided her time at Jamestown College as a freshman, but has made a serious impact the past three years.
Ramlo's playing career will end at the NAIA national tournament. She's hoping that's later than sooner, of course. The 12th-ranked and 26-5 Jimmies open against Menlo, Calif., on Thursday in Sioux City, Iowa.
"You go from high school to college and you don't know what to expect, but it's been a great ride," she said. "I wouldn't have done anything differently."
Staying at home after high school was an easy decision, she said. It's certainly paid off. The versatile 6-footer has done a lot of everything during her career as her stat line shows: 796 points, 710 rebounds, 95 steals and 93 blocked shots.
But the numbers do not tell the whole tail, said coach Greg Ulland.
"Statistically, she's had a great career, but what she does goes way beyond stats. Her intangibles are off the charts," Ulland said. "Her basketball IQ is the best of anybody on our team. She's extremely competitive and all she cares about is winning.
"You don't replace a player like that. She's a special person and a very good basketball player."
Having homegrown talent excel also is beneficial. Youngsters coming up see what can be accomplished and it cultivates additional interest in the team.
"Sure, I think that matters. All those young girls seeing Amber out there playing the way she does and having success, it's great for our program and great for basketball in Jamestown," Ulland said.
Ramlo said switching blue and white for orange and black was a slam dunk.
"I went to Jimmie games growing up. It's always where I wanted to be — these were always my hometown colors," she said. "It's been pretty cool."
Ramlo has closed her career with another steady season. She's averaging 8.3 points and 7.6 rebounds. Her most underrated ability could be her ability to stretch the defense and bring big defenders out with her. She's made 21 3-pointers at a 42 percent clip. Her deep touch opens up the inside for Bridget Schuneman to work her magic inside.
"We seem to fit together pretty well, all the girls on the team," Ramlo said. "Coach (Ulland) brings in so many good players it keeps you motivated and working hard because you know there's always somebody else knocking on the door."
Ramlo finished her high school career for the Blue Jays going 2-1 at the state tournament and finishing fifth. This final tournament is sudden death, which they are hoping to avoid.
"With our experience last year, winning a game, we know what to expect. I don't think anything is going to surprise us," Ramlo said. "We're as ready as we're ever going to be. We're hoping to stay here for a while."
Courtesy of Jamestown Sun sports editor Dave Selvig, 3/6/13
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By Travis Rae, NAIA Communications and Sports Information Intern
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - (Bracket) The 22nd annual State Farm-NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship tips off Wednesday when the first of 31 games gets underway at 8:30 a.m. CST. The last two teams standing will meet in the championship game on March 12 at 6 p.m. CST. That contest televised live nationally on CBS Sports Network.
For the 16th-straight season, the national championship will be held in Sioux City, Iowa, at the Tyson Events Center. The arena has been especially kind to Northwestern (Iowa), which has won all five of its national championships at the venue. Leading the Red Raiders is senior Kendra De Jong, the Great Plains Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Northwestern will take on Mayville State (N.D.) Wednesday at 1:45 p.m.
Morningside (Iowa), which topped the poll for the first time in the final-regular season edition of the Coaches' Poll, draws Webber International (Fla.),The Sun Conference Tournament Championship, in Wednesday's first round action. The Mustangs are one-of-two teams other than Northwestern who is in the championship field that have won a national championship. Morningside is the last team not named Northwestern to win a national championship when the Mustangs raised the banner in 2009.
Eastern Oregon will make its seventh all-time appearance and second-straight trip to the national championship. The third-ranked Mountaineers will enter their Thursday game against Southwestern (Kan.) with the nation's longest active winning streak at 25. Senior Brook Randall powered Eastern Oregon to a perfect 18-0 record in the Cascade Collegiate Athletic Conference and a 31-2 overall record.
A total of eight programs from this year's field have made 10 or more trips to the national championship. College of the Ozarks (Mo.) leads this year's field with 19th all-time appearances, while Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) is second with 17th e. Meanwhile, Northwestern boasts the most all-time national championships with five. Morningside (3) and Indiana Wesleyan (1) are the only other schools in this year's 32-team field with national titles.
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) finished the regular season as the nation's highest scoring squad. The Tigers poured in 102.2 points per game, while on the other end of the spectrum Indiana Wesleyan ranks first in scoring defense limiting opponents to 48.2 points per contest.
Mayville State, Oklahoma Wesleyan, Purdue Calumet (Ind.), Reinhardt (Ga.), Roosevelt (Ill.), Saint Xavier (Ill.) and Siena Heights (Mich.) are making their first appearance at the national championship. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), Point Park (Pa.), St. Thomas (Fla.), Valley City State (N.D.) and Webber International (Fla.) have each made prior appearances but are still looking for their first tournament victories.
NeuLion is the NAIA's Digital Media Partner and official video-streaming company of 12 select NAIA National Championship events. The first 30 games from Sioux City, Iowa, will be available via live video stream for $29.95 and any single day can be purchased for $9.95. Also, one can purchase the all-tournament package of all four basketball tournaments for $49.95. For more information and to pre-register, click here.
To view live statistics throughout the tournament, click here.
