2010

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ECCC's 'young but talented' squad ready to begin season from school report s

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able player, rebound and offensive player awards and All-District; McWilliams, All– District, best offensive player, most improved player and free-throw awards; and Bryant, most valuable player. With eight newcomers on the 15- person roster, Smith said it may take "a few games" before the Lady Warriors "come together as a team." "Our freshmen will have to step up in a hurry for us to be successful," said Smith. "We signed several freshmen that need to play early and well." Among the top signees include Ja'– Monica Orton, a 6' guard and product of Walter E. Stebbins High School in Dayton, Ohio, and Annie Brewer of Philadelphia, a S-9 forward from Madison Ridgeland Academy. Orton, a McDonald's All-American nominee, received All-State, All-District and most valuable player honors and also led the region in rebounds. Brewer comes to EC after receiving best offensive player and free-throw awards at MRA. where she was also a three-time recipient of All-District honors. Other members of the freshman class - all of whom Smith said will have an opportunity to earn playing time - include guards Inessa Adams (5-6) of Horn Lake, Deirde Hawkins (S-5) of Dermott (Ark.) High School and Shana Ward (~) of Carthage, and forwards Joy Luckett (S-8) of Thomastown, Elizabeth Young-Sherrod (5-7) of Seguin (Tex.) High School and Kurlysha Bell (5-10) of Kosciusko. Adams received co-most valuable player honors and was selected on t he All-Star squad. Hawkins is a two-time All-State and All– Region selection and received All-District and All-Conference honors for four sea– sons. Ward, a four-time All-District selection, also received four best offensive player awards. Luckett is a two-time All-State selec– tion who also received All-District honors and was chosen best offensive player. Bell's honors include best offensive player and most rebounds. Serving her first year as assistant coach is Britta Stephens, a former basket– ball standout at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, where she was a three– year starter for the Lady Crusaders. She was also selected an NAIA Scholar Ath– lete in 2009 and 2010. She also had a stellar career at North Pike High School in Summit, where she was chosen a Mis– sissippi High School Basketball All-Star. Student assistants an~ Nandi Franklin ofWest Lauderdale, Mercedes Brown of Sebastopol and Tabrica Odom, Kelcia Bufkin and Pasha Williams, all of Scott Central.

New faces and players with limited col– lege experience comprise this year's ver– sion of East Central Community College Lady Warrior basketball, but head coach Bill Smith remains confi- dent that his talent-laden squad will produce another successfuI cam– paign in 2010-11. Both EC squads begin season action at Coa– homa Community College today with game times set for 6 and 8 p.m.. The Lady Warriors and Warriors will also be on the road Thursday for matchups scheduled at 6 and 8 p.m. at Holmes Community Col– lege, prior to their home opener with East Mississippi Community College sched– uled for Saturday. Game times are 2 and 4 p.m. in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Edu– cation Building. Smith, who begins his sixth season in successfully leading the Lady Warrior program, described the 2010-11 squad as "very enthusiastic" and a "fun team" for fans to watch. "We'll be fast-paced and hard-working in every game, and a team that will work hard in practice every day to get better," said Smith, who has guided the Lady War– riors to six straight winning campaigns and an overall 65-49 mark, including a Region 23 title in 2007-08. Returnees from last year's team, which advanced to the MACJC State Tourna– ment and finished 13-11, include center Bianca Thomas (6-3) of Sebastopol, for– wards Xenobia Lavender (5-11) of Noxap– ater, Jakiala McWilliams (5-7) of Neshoba Central, Sharae Pigues (5-10) of Olive Branch and Quentinette Odom (S-8) of Scott Central, and guards Shanequa Bufkin (5-3) of Scott Central and Alise Bryant (5-4), a product of Nor thwest Rankin High School. Smith said he expects "a lot of leader– ship·• from his sophomores, none of whom were starters last season. He is especially depending on Odom and Bufkin who received team honors fol– lowing the successful2009-10 campaign. "Shanequa and Quentinette are our most vocal leaders on the court," he added. "And their leadership will be a key factor in our success." Odom received the hustle award and Bufkin was recognized as the most improved player. Odom earned All-State and All-District honors at Scott Central where she also received awards for most rebounds and best defensive player. Other sophomores receiving honors on the high school level prior to joining the LadyWarrior program were Thomas, most rebounds, best offensive player and all-tournament team; Lavender, most valu-

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