Nov. 20,2009 I The Clarion Pa'
sports
Women's basketball looks to improve on last season
by Richard Bush
Sports Editor
“We deserve to win” is the theme for the
Lady Tornados this season. Head Coach
Shannon Reid along with assistant Terrence
Baxter has installed into the tornados head
to play every game as if they deserve to
win.
Lady Tornados finished the season 6-21
last year and 0-16 in the South Atlantic
Conference. With the five freshmen
Katelyime Poole, Alyssa Cutshaw, Aheley
Watkins, Tempestt Mack and Alexis
Atkins adding more depth to the bench
and Division 1
transfer Brianna
Worley making
her presence
known in the
post, the Tornados
looktomakeabig
improvement this
season.
Lead by Pre-
Season 2nd team all conference Senior
Samantha Wiim, who averaged 16 points
and 8 rebounds per game last year. She
has proven to be a respected leader and
expected to put the team on her back with
her aggressive style of play.
Along with Junior captain Amanda
Whitaker averaging 10 points and 7
rebounds a game last year is looking to be
more of a scorer this season.
With the improvement of the “ Sophomore
Tri-Pod” Aima Schlobohm, Holli Flippo
and Lindsay Brendle, the Tornados push
forward to making the team goals of
being at least .500 and making the SAC
tournament.
With this years team having only 2
seniors, Sam Wiim and Millie Wharton.
Coach Reid made it clear that this season
is very meaningful to the players and for
the future of the program.
“This program has had frequent changes
in coach’s and players. It is important that
the seniors leave on a good note and feel
positive about what they have done for the
program.”
With that being said by Coach Reid, it
shows not only the importance of wiiming
and changing the program, but the type of
relationship her along with her coaching
staff have with the players.
One thing Reid is stoked about is
returning 80 percent of last year’s team.
“With the growth and maturity of the team,
practice has become less stressful for my
coaching staff and 1. It’s also easier for the
players now, because the older girls our
able to help the younger ones get through
it,” Reid stated.
Having probably the youngest coaching
staff in the SAC, the player/coach
relationship is real good and they like
to consider themselves as a
family.
“We have a great group of
girls. They make the job so
much fun and they are just
a joy to be around. 1 really
consider them along with my
staff as my family,” Reid went
on to say.
Elite assistant coach
Terrence Baxter, who went to Pfeiffer
University with Coach Reid, made the
transaction from coaching men’s basketball
over to women’s basketball.
In charge of recruiting and considered
the “Defensive Coordinator” of the team,
Baxter has done a great job building
tmstworthy relationships with the players
and is a major
asset to the
program.
Jessica
Blanford, a
former All-
Conference
player at Mars
Hill just ayear
ago, adds a familiar face to the players
and the knowledge of what it takes to be
successful in this league.
Last season being Reid’s first year with
the Lady Tornados, she didn’t really know
what to expect and very aware that it would
be a big difference from NAlAto Division
to while playing in one of the toughest
leagues, the SAC.
“1 knew that it would take hard work
from the coaching staff to try to rebuild a
program filled with younger players. With
the players buying into our coaching system
and constantly working hard, it makes the
job that much easier.” Reid went on to say
that, “There are three things 1 often tell
them. If we learn to work hard, and learn
to compete then we will win.”
Last season the ladies played every game
with effort just to hang in the game and
to keep up with the other teams. With the
effort of the players and the great schemes
and strategies of the coach’s, the players
will be competing to win this season.
GoingO-16 last seasoninthe conference,
they continue to work hard and display
great effort. That just shows a lot about the
character of the players on the team.
Among all that, the team is hungry for
their first win in the SAC, that makes the
dangerous to a lot of their opponents.
Reid added, “It is actually kind of sad
that all people worry about is the win and
lose column. This is a great group of girls
that work hard everyday at practice, but
those on the outside don’t get to see that
type of stuff.”
“In the past we may have lost on the
court, but the heart and effort the girls put
out in practice and during off season is a
moral victory for us.”
When asked, “What is your ultimate
plan for this program?” With an ocean of
confidence in her eyes, she replied, “SAC
championship
and having
winning
seasons year
after year”
“Finishing
top 5 in this
conference is
always good.
1 want us to be able to compete with the
best. If we leave this program better than
how it was when found, then it all will be
considered a success.”
People say it takes 1000 days to rebuild
a program, which is four years. With the
dedication and hard work of Reid and her
coaching staff, there is no doubt in my mind
that it will happen before then.
photo Curtesy BC sl
I want us to be able to compete with
the best. If we leave this program bet
ter than how it was when found, then
it all will be considered a success.