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The Twins are coming to Frost, highlights from an Argus story:
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...41/1002/SPORTS
From Mitchell to Texas
Hoffman twins stayed together after South Dakota prep careers - now they're back to face SDSU
STU WHITNEY
swhitney@argusleader.com
Article Published: 12/16/05, 2:55 am
Texas State University women's basketball coach Suzanne Fox calls it "the ESP thing." Researchers refer to the phenomenon as twin telepathy.
However you label the lasting link between former Mitchell High School standouts Jeana and Jenna Hoffman, we can all agree on one thing.
Their sister act is soaring.
After shaking up South Dakota's prep scene as a diminutive but deadly duo, the 5-foot-7 sophomores are now starting guards for Texas State - an NCAA Division I school located in San Marcos, roughly 1,000 miles from the Corn Palace.
The identical twins have a homecoming tonight at Frost Arena in Brookings, where the Bobcats face South Dakota State. Texas State brings a 7-0 record into tonight that represents the school's best start in 39 years.
According to Fox, the Hoffmans' ability to anticipate each other on the court has played a large role in Texas State's success.
"It happens a lot," says Fox, whose team opened its season with a 77-69 road conquest of Oklahoma State. "Whenever either one gets into a bad situation, there's an internal thing between them where they find each other - and typically good things happen." . . .
The Hoffmans, who sparked Mitchell to a Class AA state title in 2003, will suit up on South Dakota soil for the first time since ripping Roosevelt for third place at the 2004 Class AA state tournament at the Elmen Center.
"We're really excited about this," confirms Jeana, who injured her knee at practice Wednesday but still expects to play. "There will be a lot of family and friends coming out to support us, so it should be a fun atmosphere - even though we're on the road."
The road has been home to the Hoffmans since they completed stellar prep careers that included Gatorade Player of the Year honors for Jenna in 2003 and Jeana in 2004. Their desire to play Division I basketball together led to a long-distance gambit.
There were plenty of raised eyebrows when the twins signed with Texas State, a Southland Conference school of 27,000 students perhaps best known as the alma mater of former U.S. president Lyndon Johnson.
Fox learned about the Hoffmans from Willow Lake native Joe Reints, an SDSU alum and former Northern State assistant who served on her staff. They faced a difficult adjustment as freshmen so far from home, and Reints left San Marcos last June to become head coach at Lambuth University in Tennessee.
"It was a little tough when he left - but people move on," says Jeana, who started all 28 games in 2004-05 and averaged 5.7 points. Her sister started three games and managed 3.3 points a game.
There has been speculation that the Hoffmans - whose older sister, Sarah, is an assistant track coach at USD - would seek to transfer to a school closer to home. Jenna refused this week to comment about their plans beyond this season.
But the former Kernels, who share a dorm room and also a major (exercise and sports science), have seemed more comfortable and confident as sophomores.
Starters in all seven games, Jenna ranks first in team assists (4.4), second in steals (1.1) and fourth in rebounds (4.3), while Jeana is third in scoring (10.7).
"You can tell they really worked on their games this summer," says Fox, who guided the Bobcats to the NCAA tournament in 2003. "The biggest change with all our sophomores is that they came back with more confidence. They understand the travel demands and training regimen - all that stuff is not new to them now. We wanted (the Hoffmans) to work on their mid-range games as well as ballhandling and defense, and it's obvious they put in the hours to do those things." . . .
"They'll have a lot of pressure on them, because they're back in their home state, and all eyes will be on them," says Fox. "It's something we've discussed, and I know they've thought about not getting too high or low for this game. They've been in high-pressure situations before."
Texas State will face another tough foe when it visits Nebraska on Dec. 20. After that game, Jeana and Jenna will return to Mitchell with their family to celebrate Christmas at home.
Of course, the twins already know what gift they would like to give each other against SDSU tonight - and no conversation is necessary. . . .
Go State! ;D
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...41/1002/SPORTS
From Mitchell to Texas
Hoffman twins stayed together after South Dakota prep careers - now they're back to face SDSU
STU WHITNEY
swhitney@argusleader.com
Article Published: 12/16/05, 2:55 am
Texas State University women's basketball coach Suzanne Fox calls it "the ESP thing." Researchers refer to the phenomenon as twin telepathy.
However you label the lasting link between former Mitchell High School standouts Jeana and Jenna Hoffman, we can all agree on one thing.
Their sister act is soaring.
After shaking up South Dakota's prep scene as a diminutive but deadly duo, the 5-foot-7 sophomores are now starting guards for Texas State - an NCAA Division I school located in San Marcos, roughly 1,000 miles from the Corn Palace.
The identical twins have a homecoming tonight at Frost Arena in Brookings, where the Bobcats face South Dakota State. Texas State brings a 7-0 record into tonight that represents the school's best start in 39 years.
According to Fox, the Hoffmans' ability to anticipate each other on the court has played a large role in Texas State's success.
"It happens a lot," says Fox, whose team opened its season with a 77-69 road conquest of Oklahoma State. "Whenever either one gets into a bad situation, there's an internal thing between them where they find each other - and typically good things happen." . . .
The Hoffmans, who sparked Mitchell to a Class AA state title in 2003, will suit up on South Dakota soil for the first time since ripping Roosevelt for third place at the 2004 Class AA state tournament at the Elmen Center.
"We're really excited about this," confirms Jeana, who injured her knee at practice Wednesday but still expects to play. "There will be a lot of family and friends coming out to support us, so it should be a fun atmosphere - even though we're on the road."
The road has been home to the Hoffmans since they completed stellar prep careers that included Gatorade Player of the Year honors for Jenna in 2003 and Jeana in 2004. Their desire to play Division I basketball together led to a long-distance gambit.
There were plenty of raised eyebrows when the twins signed with Texas State, a Southland Conference school of 27,000 students perhaps best known as the alma mater of former U.S. president Lyndon Johnson.
Fox learned about the Hoffmans from Willow Lake native Joe Reints, an SDSU alum and former Northern State assistant who served on her staff. They faced a difficult adjustment as freshmen so far from home, and Reints left San Marcos last June to become head coach at Lambuth University in Tennessee.
"It was a little tough when he left - but people move on," says Jeana, who started all 28 games in 2004-05 and averaged 5.7 points. Her sister started three games and managed 3.3 points a game.
There has been speculation that the Hoffmans - whose older sister, Sarah, is an assistant track coach at USD - would seek to transfer to a school closer to home. Jenna refused this week to comment about their plans beyond this season.
But the former Kernels, who share a dorm room and also a major (exercise and sports science), have seemed more comfortable and confident as sophomores.
Starters in all seven games, Jenna ranks first in team assists (4.4), second in steals (1.1) and fourth in rebounds (4.3), while Jeana is third in scoring (10.7).
"You can tell they really worked on their games this summer," says Fox, who guided the Bobcats to the NCAA tournament in 2003. "The biggest change with all our sophomores is that they came back with more confidence. They understand the travel demands and training regimen - all that stuff is not new to them now. We wanted (the Hoffmans) to work on their mid-range games as well as ballhandling and defense, and it's obvious they put in the hours to do those things." . . .
"They'll have a lot of pressure on them, because they're back in their home state, and all eyes will be on them," says Fox. "It's something we've discussed, and I know they've thought about not getting too high or low for this game. They've been in high-pressure situations before."
Texas State will face another tough foe when it visits Nebraska on Dec. 20. After that game, Jeana and Jenna will return to Mitchell with their family to celebrate Christmas at home.
Of course, the twins already know what gift they would like to give each other against SDSU tonight - and no conversation is necessary. . . .
Go State! ;D
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