Held in highest regard

Forward Josie Sparkman is fresh from posting a double-double in the Lady Bobcats’ rout of Haskell this past Saturday. BDN photo by Pat Dailey

By Pat Dailey
BDN Sports Editor
pdailey@bransondailynews.com

Assuming a non-assuming role for No. 1-ranked College of the Ozarks has likely been made easier for forward Josie Sparkman due to the fact she wasn’t her team’s star while a prep at Republic.

Sparkman ranks among the Lady Tigers’ career leaders in several categories, but Republic’s go-to gal and headline was always Kelsey Lock, an all-stater who went on to play briefly at Arkansas State.

Thus, while Sparkman’s high school career was decorated, she didn’t arrive at C of O accustomed to the star status many of her Lady Bobcats enjoyed as preps.

Not even capturing a rare hat trick by being named the MVP of all three high school all-star games she played in during the summer of 2005 could inflate her ego.

“The glory has never mattered to me,” Sparkman said. “It’s nice and all, but winning is better.”

With that kind of attitude, it shouldn’t be a surprise Sparkman was also part of a winner at Republic, helping the Lady Tigers to the 2003-‘04 Class 4 state championship. The Lady Bobcats are 85-6 (.934 winning percentage) and posted two NAIA D-II national runner-up finishes since her arrival.

Sparkman has started all but a few of those 91 games, including two contests this season due to a sprained ankle.

Her shooting touch has often been missing, but her contributions elsewhere have been so consistent that references by coaches and teammates regarding her value include lavish praise.

“She’s our glue,” assistant coach Becky Vest said.

“She holds us together,” added forward Lindsy Murray. “Without Josie, we’re not a team. She’s a vital part of our team. She can go scoreless and we still need to have her on the court. Everybody loves playing with Josie because she’s unselfish, she makes the pass to the open person and she rebounds like a maniac.”

Last season, Sparkman topped the Lady ‘Cats with averages of 5.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists a game. Also, her 58 turnovers were the fewest of any starter along the perimeter. This season, her norms are 5.6 and 2.2 and she has only 34 giveaways. Defensively, she repeatedly draws the assignment of guarding the opponent’s top scorer.

“I think my role is to rebound and defend,” said Sparkman, the MCAC Freshman of the Year in 2005-‘06. “I want to be doing anything anyone else isn’t doing to make everything work for us.”

It’s a coincidence coach George Wilson has a grandbaby named Josie, but if she had been named after Sparkman he would have approved.

“The first time I sat down and visited with her I fell in love with her,” said Wilson, who added that Sparkman is beloved by children and parents at C of O’s daycare, her workstation the past three years. “She’s an awesome person and has great loyalty. This year, that’s been very important. We’ve seen what it’s like not to have it.

“I’ve liked the fact she plays hard and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. She just seems to have a knack for that.”