Culver-Stockton lands Guymon

Brianne Guymon committed to play basketball at Culver-Stockton College. Seated beside her are her parents, Kent and Teresa Guymon. Standing in back is Culver-Stockton basketball coach Dan Chapla.

Culver-Stockton College was looking for three-point shooting. Brianne Guymon hopes she can solve that problem.

Guymon, a senior at Carthage High School, committed to play for the Lady Wildcats basketball team last week. She continues the line from Carthage to Canton, Mo., as part of the last Bluegirls' class. Carthage is joining Dallas City and LaHarpe in the new Illini West High School this fall.

“It's a great day for our program,” said Culver-Stockton coach Dan Chapla. “We've had a tradition of getting Carthage girls in our program for, I think, the last 14 years. We got a very good student and basketball player. She's going to make me a better coach.”

Guymon's most obvious appeal is her three-point shooting. She hit 92 this season to set a new single-season school record for made three-pointers. With the new high school, it's another record that stands for all-time.

“Our team had 110 threes for the season,” said Chapla. “She had 92 this year by herself. Obviously, we had a need. Shooters are a premium at our level. The nice thing is she can also score off the bounce a little bit.”

Guymon chose Culver-Stockton over Millikin University..

“It came down to Culver and Millikin. I liked the Millikin coaches a lot. The close-to-home factor was why I chose Culver,” said Guymon. “It's not that I'll be home a lot, but my parents can come see me and see more games.”

Guymon played volleyball and softball at Carthage. The decision to choose one sport was tough.

“It was tougher to give up softball than volleyball. I have more fun with basketball and it is more exciting to me,” she said.

“I didn't know if I would play college ball. I didn't know if I would be good enough,” said Guymon. “I'm glad I am because I don't think I could give up athletics after high school. Now I get four more years.”

Carthage basketball coach Zach Keene thinks Guymon is an underrated player defensively.

“She doesn't make a basket at one end and then give up one at the other end,” he said. “She's a hard worker at the defensive end.

“Her shooting is something they obviously looked at. She knocked down eight threes as a sophomore, 77 as a junior and 92 this year to set a single-season school record for threes. It shows her work ethic. They are getting a great leader and a great person.”