2011

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL I EAST CENTRAL WOMEN ECCC \vomen eye rebound from losing mark By Jamie Wachter m

rebound from the first losing season under.coach Bill Smith. Last year, the Warriors went just 8-15 and missed the MACJC state tourna– ment and the NJCAA Region 23 tournament for the first time since Smith's first year in 2008- 09. Overall Smith is 93-64 at ECCC. "We're going to find outTuesday how ready they are," Smith said. "We've been practicing against ourselves for awhile and we're ready to see where we are." The Warriors open their season Tuesday at home against Coahoma before Holmes and North– east Mississippi visit Thursday and Saturday, respectively. Leading ECCC will be 6-foot sophomore guard Ja'Monica Orton, who earned all-state and all– region honors after aver– aging 15.6 points per game. Also back for the Warriors are guard Inessa Adams and forward Kurlysha Bell. "Orton played well for us, but she's battling a knee injury right now," Smith said. "She's not 100 percent and we just have to see how that comes along. She will definitely be a main cog in our wheel.

Anned ll.ith ju,t one returning tarter, Ea<;t Central Community Col– lege v;omen ba,ketball team v.;n look to youth to

Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star East Central Community College coach Bill Smith looks to guide his Warriors back from the1r first losing season under his watch. ''111ey've had .a year to get acclimated to the Kelda Bufkin, Ellen Black, Jakela Johnson, Allie Kirby, Jaianah

speed of the college game and hopefully they can get these freshmen ready." Joining that trio will be a freshman crop that includes Ashley Hardy, a 5-10 toward from N<>wton High and Newton County product Rencisha Evans. Other newcomers are

Matthew, Xzandra Dowel and Ariel Merriweather. "It doesn't matter where they come from, if they can help us, they can help us," Smith said "We'll just see how they adjust and how quickly they come along."

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