SIAC WOMEN
Lady Wildcats Blessed With Success!
A Ft Valley in Seven Post Season Tourney, and
? M.:* flan
have won two championships .
Ever since its inception, the Fort Val
ley State College Lady Wildcat Basketball
program has been blessed with success
that has made it one of the most respected
in the SIAC, if not in the country. For the
past eight seasons, that reputation has
grown and prospered under head coach
Lonnie Hartley. With Bartley at the helm,
the LadyCats have tasted post season play
for seven consecutive years, Won two
SIAC championships, and have earned
tWD invitations to the Division II basket
ball tournament. So far this season. Fort
Valley has posted a record of 15-2 (5-1
? SIAC) ami is once again in the running-for
another berth in the all important SIAC
Tournament that will be held in Birming
ham. Alabama (March 3-6).
Bartley feels that the reasons the
LadyCats have bolted out to such a strong
start are experience and enthusiasm. "We
had quite a few people to return from last
year's .team (which won the SIAC Cham
pionship and qualified for the Division II
Tournament), and that gave us a good
nucleus on which to build for this season.
In the off season, we recruited some new
personnel that we felt would help us in
several reasons, and their eagerness and
ability to get adapted to our system has
paid off well."
Looking at the statistics. Fort Valley's
roster sports four individuals who are scor
ing in double figures, a big reason for the
team's scoring average of 85.6 points a
game, and two guards (Dionka Davis and
Lisa Draper) with over 70 assists. Debbie
Ray (18.4), Davis (17.3), Cynthia Bridges
(12.5), and Natoshia Williams (1 1.3) have
helped Fort Valley with their ability to
step up and score points when needed.
"We have a squad that relies totally on the
team concept. They are constantly looking
for the open person and getting the ball to
and (DeeDee) Davis has become a better
shooter. As for myself, I want to improve
on my field goal percentage (she is shoot
ing 54% from the floor in 92-V3) and free
throw sh<K)ting. We know its going to take
a lot of hard work. The new players have
developed well as the season wears on.
and they have confidence now when coach
calls on them. However, if were are to do
well in post season play, our intensity on
defense and ball control must be at its
Cynthia Bridges
ii
We had quite a few people to
return that gave us a good nucleus
on which to build for this season "
? Coach Bartley
them." As one glances at the numbers, it is
evident that the LadyCats can have several
options as to who may score the points,
which underscores the team concept even
more. "We basically don't have what
many would consider to he the 'go to' per
son. Our team docs certain things accord
ing to what phase the hall game is in, and
everyone is aware as to where the ball is
located," says Hartley. Fort Valley does a
great job of finding the open person, and
the one spotted more than anyone is Ray.
The 6' I" "Senior from Cairo, Georgia is
having another prwluctive season, leading
the team in both scoring and rebounding
(10.6). Last season as a rookie in the
FVSC program (as a JUCO transfer), Ray
led Fort Valley in both scoring (IX. 2) and
rebounding ( 10.3) as she helped Fort Val
ley to 21-9 record, the SI AC title and a
Division II Playoff invitation. "Debbie's
presence has been a real plus for us. She
concentrates well and remains consistent
with her style of play." Ray, who docs
most of her talking with her performance
on the basketball court, has set some per
sonal goals for the season. "We are out to
win 20 or more games again this season.
Last year, we won the SIAC Champi
onship, but as a team, we would *5ery
much like to repeat as champions again
this year. In order to do so though, we all
have to improve, or continue improving on
our games. Cynthia (Bridges) has done
better on the rebounding end this year.
best." Kay also noted that while she was in
Junior College at Brevard in Cocoa, Mori
da, she didn't think that she would have
the success that is now associated with
her. Last year. Ray was named to the A 1 1 -
SIAC team and was also voted the SIAC
Tournament MVP.
Fort Valley also has a reputation tor
playing its freshman recruits right away,
and getting positive results from the move.
Keeping that tradition alive are rookies
Williams and Calamtnr Stephens:
Williams has developed quickly, earning a
spot in the starting rotation, averaging I 1.3
points a game and just over 5 rebrfunds.
Williams has even led the team in a couple
of games, exploding for 29 points against
Valdosta State and providing the lone
glimmer of hope in a 75-66 setback
against Albany State with a 19 point per
formance. Stephens has stepped in and
provided depth for the LadyCats in the
low post, enabling starter Bridges (who
leads the nation in field goal percentage at
72%) to get some needed rest. "It has been
our custom to find gtxxl athletes that can
come in and be able to produce right
away. We have been fortunate enough to
get some blue chippers along the way, and
that in itseK has helped the program
immensely."
Winning basketball is not the only
thing associated with the Lady Wildcat
program as many former players have
gone on to do well after their playing days
w
Coach Lonnie Hartley
coach. "A lot of the discipline and pride
that they pick up as members of the team
stays with them and carries over to every
day life. A lot of that comes from my
experience with coach (Jessie) Brown
(Hartley was her assistant during Brown's
reign as f'VSC coach), who was always
stressing a good work ethic." All coaches
are thrilled with winning, hut Hartley finds
more enjoyment ^seeing his players reap
the benefits of their efforts both on and off
the court. "1 really enjoy seeing players go
and pick up awards, whether it be MVP.
All-Conference or some sort of academic
achievement. Seeing others do well is just
as gotxl as winning a game."
As the season begins to enter the final
month. Bartlcy knows that the road will
only get tougher, and the team will have to
take one game at a time "the time has to
keep playing together and not become
selfish of we are to come close to the type
of campaign we had last season. The
ladies have got to stay hungry for success
and not let complacency set in. We have
some good teams in this league, and doing
just enough to get by could cost you dear
ly"
arc over. "Wc try not to instill basketball
as a way of life for our players, and they
are prepared for the working world when
their playing days are over," says the