2004

,.- < WEEK OF ~...:_......:...c.~-----

EC Lady • Lady arriors were 31-4 las year. aimed state and Reg·on 23 champiOns ps. 1 Record If the ·JCA.A. preseason poll IS an mdicator for suc– ce_~ then East Central Com– munity College women's basketball team should be making plans for a return trip to the national tourna– ment in Salina, Kansas, in 2005. The Lady Warriors, ranked sixth in the recent ~

Members of the 2004-05 women's basketball team and their respective high schools include (front row, from left) freshman guards Aja Loveless of Newton and Emily Massey (redshirt) of East Rankin Academy, and student assistants Lakeisha Bobbitt of Scott Central, Ashley Clark Starkville Academy, Kasenda Overstreet of South Leake, Monica Carter of Noxapater, Jaimee Jones of Nanih Waiya and Krystle Hunter of Noxapater; (second row, from left) freshman guard Ashley Flint of Choctaw Central, freshman center Shannon Lloyd of West Lauderdale, fresh– man guard LaSaundra Harrison of Union, sophomore guard Kristin Chaney 9f Newton Courny, freshman guard Heather Steele of Nanih Waiya, sophomore guards Roxana Rogers and Kun Cox, both of Lake, and freshman guard Tierra Young of South Leake; and (back row, from left head coach Brad Hodge, freshman forwards Dominatrix Hunter of Philadelphia and Sara Judice of Te~rljngs Catholic (Lafayette, La.), sophomore guard/forward Kotreece Bender of Newton, sophpmore forward India Backstrom of Neshoba Central, freshman guards Erica Hardin of Lou~ville and Lauren White of _Union, freshman center April Viverette of Lake ana

rankings, finished eighth in the nation in 2003-04, after winning runner-up honors in the NJCAA Consolation Bracket and finishing

Hodge

with a 31-4 record. Led by third-year head coach Brad Hodge and then assistant LaCole Brooks, the East Cenrral women advanced to the national tourney after ~pturing the Region 23, MACJC and South Division crowns. Although the pre-season ranking is flattering to the program, Hodge said the Lady Warriors "have a lot to prove·· if they are to make a re·urn trip to the presti- tournament . e re got another com– ~titil.--e and talented group ~\J·\UU be fun to watch. t play up– ravs do. and P!aV hard. rPhmmd better

assistant coach Zareth Gray. that out, we've got a chance to be productive," Hodge said. Hodge said the Lady War– riors are "passionate" about winning, and have made it clear that they want to con– tinue the winning tradition and hopefully return to the NJCAATournament. "Our goal is always to win the division, state and region tournaments and make it to the national tour– nament, and I think this group is determined to suc– ceed. However, I believe the league is stronger this year and e\erybody will be giv– ing us their best because of our success last season,·· Hodge ~tated.

Region Tournament Team and was selected All– State, averaged 11 points per game while Bender had nine points per contest. Other returnees are guards Roxana Rogers (5'7") and Kim Cox (5'7") both of Lake, and forward India Backstrom (5'11") of Nesho– ba Central. Freshmen are guards Ash– ley Flint (5'10") of Choctaw Central, LaSaundra Harri– son (5'3") of Union, Heather 23

Steele (5'9") of Nanih Wai. Tierra Young (5'8"') of So Leake, EricaHardin 5'9 Louisville and Aja i

of West Laud April Vi\ erette Lake.

NESHOBADEMOCRAT ________ NEWTON RECOR:> _,_____ MERIDIAN STA.q ------- CLAH.ION-LEDG~ ~ ______

Top returnees are guard e Kristm Chaney (5'6''), a m2 product of Ne\\1on County earn High School, and guard/for-

t Kotreece Bender night-out at (5'10..), of Ne\\1on. Chaney, ce the. figure who was named to the All- mpete "ard