Published: November 03, 2009 11:42 pm      

ECCC excited to hit the court

DECATUR — If preseason workouts are an indication of what’s to come, then East Central Community College’s basketball squads can look forward to successful seasons.

  Both head coaches — Bill Smith, who returns for his fifth season leading the Lady Warriors, and Maurice Bowie, set to begin his fourth season as Warrior head mentor — expressed confidence about their respective squads, who began the 2009-10 campaign Monday at Holmes Community College in Goodman.

  The Lady Warriors and Warriors will also be on the road Thursday at East Mississippi Community College. The women’s game is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men’s matchup at 7:30 p.m.

  The first home games are scheduled Saturday against Northeast Mississippi Community College. The women’s contest is set for 2 p.m. followed by the men’s game at 4 p.m. in the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building.

  “Our team has really been working hard in the off season and hopefully it will pay off when the season gets under way,” said Smith, whose 2008-09 squad advanced to post-season play before finishing at 17-10.

  “This is a much faster team than last year and can run the floor better,” he said. “We are also a lot smaller but hopefully our guard play will improve.” 

  One of Smith’s main goals this season is another return to the post-season and hopefully a championship. The 2007-08 squad won the Region 23 title and advanced to the NJCAA Tournament in Salina, Kan., finishing at 22-8. The Lady Warriors were ranked as high as ninth in the NJCAA poll.

  A key member of both squads has since moved on to the university level. Mystee Dale, a 5-foot-8 guard and former Choctaw Central High School standout, averaged almost 20 points, five assists and seven rebounds in 2008-09 and garnered second team NJCAA All-American, Region 23, All-State and All-Star honors. She is continuing her athletic career at Marshall University.

  Smith said replacing Dale will not be easy, but he is confident that the returning sophomores will provide the point production and leadership needed for a successful season.

  His four returnees are guards Hannah Lee (5-11) of Leake Academy, Danielle Cole (5-7) of Philadelphia, Yolanda Jones (5-5) of Lake and Sierra Croff (5-4), a product of Newton County High School.

  With only four returnees, Smith said the team’s success will also depend on how the freshmen perform.

  “I hope they (freshmen) can adjust to the college game in a hurry,” Smith said of the nine freshmen, his largest group since taking over the women’s program in 2005. “They will have to contribute early for us to be successful.”

  Newcomers include guards Alise Bryant (5-4) of Northwest Rankin, Shanequa Bukfin (5-3) of Scott Central, Shantell Neely (5-3) of Searcy, Ark. and Demetria Slocum (5-5) of Bradford, Fla.; forwards Xenobia Lavender (5-11) of Noxapater, Jakiala McWilliams (5-7) of Neshoba Central, Quentinette Odom (5-8) of Scott Central and Sharae Pigues (5-10) of Olive Branch; and center Bianca Thomas (6-3) of Sebastopol.

  Kristin Chaney begins her second year as Smith’s assistant.

  Bowie is also optimistic about his Warriors and has high hopes of producing the team’s first winning season since taking over the program in 2006. Last year’s squad finished 8-17.

  “I love the way my guys catch on to things and pick it up the first time around,” Bowie said. “They have a good basketball IQ and know what’s going on when they are on the court.”

  Bowie describes this year’s squad as “very fast and smart” and one that “makes good decisions on and off the court.”

  “I know we are not going to over-power anybody with strength or size,” Bowie added, “but, although small, we are a smart team and very disciplined.”

  Bowie said his goals this year are “to graduate all our sophomores and give it all we got every day or night and play for a championship.”

  Only three sophomores return from last year’s squad, but Bowie said all three will be considered “captains and supervisors.”

  “Each player has a different job to do and each one has definitely taken the bull by the horns and embraced his position and goal,” he said.

  Returnees are point guard Antonio Grace (5-7) and shooting guard Steve Edwards (6’), both products of Newton High School; and guard Kenneth Thomas (6-4) of Jackson Provine.

  The fourth-year head coach is also complimentary of his freshman players.

  “I’m very pleased with the players we recruited this year because they all want to be a part of something special and are willing to work hard to get it,” Bowie said. “Not all kids are going to put in the work, but this group has gone beyond what we asked them to do.”

  Freshman squad members are guards Joshua Carothers (5-8) and Kendall Jackson (6-1), both of Columbus, Kenondre Hodges (5-11) of Newton, Jasper Bronson (6’) of Forest Hill, Greg Hodo (6-3) of Northwest Rankin and Kendrick McKee of Scott Central; shooting guard Victor Taylor (6’) of Noxubee; point guard Shelton Banks (5-9) of Morton; forwards Titus Mims (6-7) and Jonathan McLenden  (6-7), both products of Alief Hasting High School in Houston, Texas; and forward/center Aquill Baynard (6-7) of Jackson Provine.   

  “I just can’t say enough how hard these guys have worked in the off-season and pre-season,” Bowie said. “I hope fans will be pleased with the product we put on the floor this year.”

  Cornelius Gilleylen begins his second year as Bowie’s assistant.