Lady Mustangs of Parkland take State Games title
Team defeats
High Point Andrews
for the crown
BY ANTHONY HILL
THE CHRONICLE
Parkland girls head basket
ball coach Jon Weavil knew
his team was simply a couple
pieces away from winning a
title of some sort. Last year,
he felt like his squad let a con
ference championship slip
away.
He wanted his squad to
understand that they were
good enough to beat any team
in the state when they are
clicking on all cylinders. The
Parkland Mustangs seemed to
click well* over the weekend
when they finished the State
Games of North Carolina w ith
a championship, after going 5
1 in the tournament.
"It feels good to win this
championship," said Weavil.
"I think this team is making
strides in the right direction I
think we're seeing what type
of team we can be. 1 really
think this championship could
springboard us to some good
things next season. We needed
to taste a championship Now
1 think my girls believe that
we can do some special
Parkland girls pose with head coach Jon Weavil after winning the State Games title.
things. It was also special to
beat a conference rival for the
title. We were one game away
from winning a conference
championship this year I real
ly think we're turning a comer
now."
Parkland defeated High
Point Andrews for the title at
the Greensboro Coliseum on
Sunday The Mustangs also
defeated WF Rolesville.
Carrboro. Middle Creek and
South Caldwell. The
Mustangs only lost to the 4-A
State Champs. Westover.
"The game we lost was a
little funny," Weavil said.
"That was a game we played
at 8 in the morning on
Saturday. A lot of^my girls
weren't at their best. They
were a good team too. They
were the defending 4-A state
champs. But I'm glad with the
effort we came with after that
loss. I wasn't too discouraged
because I still knew we could
win it. I actually thought we
had a good chance after the
first day. We won our first
game by 30 points. We ended
up jumping on Carrboro 70
22. The JV girls played a lot in
the second half of that game.
We had quite a few double
digit wins 1 saw something in
the team that I knew we had in*
us this weekend. We really
took care of business."
Weavil also saw his squad
at full strength for the first
time. The Mustangs went most
of the season without Alicia
Penn. Parkland almost had to
go this tournament without
Sydney SurTatt. She turned
her ankle really bad during
summer league play. Parkland
also received a boost from
North transfer Victoria Davis.
Davis caused havoc for oppo
nents the entire weekend
Other key players were the
talented J'Mia Pollock.
Jessica Morgan. Alicia Penn
and Jazmin Cromartie
Shayanna Hicks and Jaci
Bradley also provided good
play for the Mustangs off the
bench.
"We really took care of
business this weekend,"
Weavil said. "It was a total
team effort. We ran our fast
breaks well. We played great
defense. We simply harassed
High Point Andrews key play
er the whole game. She's sup
posed to be one of the top
players in the state."
Parkland seemed to play
more consistent basketball
during the special tournament
as well. Last season, the
Mustangs defeated some very
good teams. Then, they
dropped games to some
squads "they probably should
n't have lost to.
"The key is definitely
going to be consistency this
upcoming season," Weavil
said. "We made huge strides
toward that this weekend. We
learned something about our
selves. I told the girls that I've
won championships. I know
they can win championships. I
reaily do. I think they realized
that this weekend. I felt like
we were very consistent dur
ing this tournament. I also
really think this is what we
needed to take another step."
Some of the other players
on the squad" are Shadawn
Higgins, Bryana McCorkle,
Shakira Bowman, Lena Elliott
and Tameisha Reaves. Weavil
was assisted by Roscoe
Weavil, Daryl Evans and
Harrison Davis.
Note: The 2008 State
Games of North Carolina
are North Carolina's largest
multi-sport festival and one of
the largest State Games pro
grams in the United States.
The State Games are hosted
by North Carolina Amateur
Sports, which is a 501(c)3
nonprofit charitable organiza
tion dedicated to creating a
healthier North Carolina.
Ford-Kee named Lincoln director of athletics
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
Lincoln University of
Pennsylvania, which will become a
member of the CIAA, has named
Dianthia Ford-Kee as its new
Director of Athletics. Ford-Kee
came to Lincoln from Shaw
University where she served as the
Associate Athletic Director/Senior
Woman Administrator and taught
courses in Public Administration.
In becoming the first female ath
letics director in Lincoln's distin
guished 1 54-year history, Ford-Kee
brings a wealth of teaching, coach
ing and administrative experience
from her time working with the
CIAA and NCAA to the Lincoln ath
letics department. Lincoln is in the
process of transitioning from
Division III to Division II.
A native of Lawrenceville, N.J.,
Ford-Kee wa$ named the National
Association of Collegiate Women
Athletic Administrators (NACWAA)
NCAA Division II Female Athletic
Administrator of the Year in 2006.
She earned, her Bachelor of Arts
aegree in
Business
Administration
from
Fayette ville
State University
in 1982 and a
master's degree
in Public Affairs
from Northern'
Illinois
University in
1984. Among
some of the courses she taught dur
ing a 10-year period at Shaw includ
ed Public Personnel Administration,
Organized Theory & Behavior,
Introduction to Public
Administration and Human
Resources.
Ford-Kee served on the NCAA
Division II Management Council as
the CIAA Conference representative
from 1 999-32005 . She was also a
member on several national commit
tees including the Committee on
Women's Athletics, Division II
Nominating Committee, and NCAA
Woman of the Year. She currently
serves on the NCAA Division II
Diversity Project Team and the
NCAA Division II Strategic
Alliance Matching Grant Selection
Committee .
Ford-Kee is no stranger to the
Central Intercollegiate Athletic
Association (CIAA). The
Fayetteville State University alum
nae enjoyed a successful 14-year
coaching career at Shaw in the
sports of volleyball and softball
where she won over 500 games
combined.
ft
Ford-Kee
"Hey Dad"
Photo by Anthony Hill
Roscoe Anderson Center (formerly Reynolds Park) director Bryant
McCorkle jokes with his son, Juwon "Jay" McCorkle on Monday night.
^ PCTTTXTTB
Here, police officer Bennie Oates gives some lough love and advice to his players during a bas
ketball game earlier this week. Oates coaches various youth sports during his off time.
Hill
from pafe BI
I personally know all of
those people, and a few more
who really dedicate themselves
to helping kids become better
people, athletes and citizens.
And most of them have jobs that
take up a lot of hours. Bennie
Oates is a police officer that
- coaches numerous basketball
teams each year at Reynolds
Park He also coaches Pop
Warner He doesn't even have
any kids.
Dennis Timmons works
numerous jobs, but uses his off
time to still work with kids.
Dennis has a number of kids of
his own. But most of them are
older That doesn't stop him
from coaching numerous other
? kids. Sam Davis is a reporter,
coach, grandparent and busi
* nessman. Yet, he was spending
his time volunteering at a foot
ball camp earlier this week.
And, what can I say about
Queen (Angela Lambson)?
What a lady. I will leave it at
that.
I know so many others who
coach for the love of kids. They
don't have to have kids on the
team. We all see parents coach
ing teams that their child may
play on. And. I'm not gaying
they are bad coaches.
I'm simply talking about the
coaches with no added interest
tm
in a team other than to help kids
progress and get better That's
what it's all about I admire
coaches like that. I really do. I
simply wanted those people, and
others like them, to know that
they are appreciated. We need
more coaches like them. 1 mean,
they give, the kids tough love,
valuable lessons and priceless
pointers. Most importantly, they
seem to help kids prepare for the
world. They are not just coach
ing kids to win a game. It's
about lifeft Please believe.
Also, shout out to the refs
that spend their time volunteer
ing at the Josh Howard basket
ball league You all are doing a
great service as well.
Tiny Vikings doing good
things
I went out to the Tiny
Vikings Field at Mineral Springs
Middle School earlier this week
to watch the third annual
Crowell Football Camp
I took the time to talk with
Tiny Viking league rep Steve
Stowe. He and the rent of that
organization are really turning
things around over there. 1 don't
want to sound like everything
has been awful, but things
weren't that good And I will
leave it at that. But Skywe and
the rest of the organization are
really doing good thing* now.
T^cy have even partnered with
the school system.
The Viking coaches can go
inside schools to check on their
kids to make sure they are
behaving and doing the right
things in class. That's good
stuff. And they arc also stressing
education and keeping grades
up. Some people think I don't
like Pop Warner. I simply don't
like soma of the rules. I like the
opportunity it gives some kids. I
like the exposure to new things
that it brings as well. But I don't
like the weight limit, crooked
coaches and loud parents that
Pop Warner sometimes bring
out. Pop Warner has really
changed throughout the years
too. It used to really be about the
kids. Boy has that changed.
But it's not Pop Warner in
general. I see some good things
going on at every field each
year. I also see some question
able things. I won't get into that
right now. But I do want to say
that it's good to see the Tiny
Vikings coming back.
O Most importantly, they are
seemingly doing things the nght
way And. that will help produce
better high school student-ath
letes and citizens. That's what
it's all about. Real talk.
Anthony Hill is the sports
editor for the Chronicle. He can
be reached at 722-8624 ( ext
111 ) or ahill ? wschronicle xom
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