Coyotes basketball preview: Lady Coyotes ‘05-’06: Young players in
the mix early
By Nathan Ahle, The Daily Independent
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2005-06 Cerro Coso Lady Coyotes : Back row (from left): Christy
Marshall, Ebonee Moses, Venitia Burton, Antionette Tyson, Brittany
Graybill, Mariah Bomberry, Paris Allen, Dar’Shelle Lynch, Darachelle
Johnson, Angel Lash. Front row (from left): Jaime Donaldson,
Stephanie Hart, Coach Tom Heck, Assistant Coach Mike Longmire,
Brenda Cantrell. Daily Independent Photo By Mike Delaney |
It’s basketball season again at Cerro Coso Community College, with the
Lady Coyotes tipping off their season late Saturday night at Life
Pacific College in San Dimas.
Injuries and a lack of size doomed Cerro Coso last season, as the
Coyotes slumped to a losing record. However, as Head Coach Tom Heck, the
winningest coach in the program’s history, enters his fifth season on
the Cerro Coso bench, there is reason to be optimistic.
“My main concern is for us to get healthy and stay healthy, something
we’ve struggled to do over the past few years,” said Heck.
“However, we’ve been banged up all autumn long and have had only a few
practices with everyone able to go,” the coach continued.
It appears that Coach Heck’s hopes of an injury-free season won’t last
long, however. Brenda Cantrell, a freshman who was a standout player
during her high school career at Burroughs under Coach Kurt Menard,
suffered a knee injury over the summer and will miss the season.
Cantrell is one of many Lady Coyotes who will fill the roster from the
Ridgecrest area this season. Immanuel Christian products Christy
Marshall and Jaime Donaldson will play, while Ebonee Moses and Brittany
Graybill also join the team from BHS.
Graybill, a former All-Desert Sky League post player, is expected to
make a major impact.
“We’re really counting on Brittany to help us on the inside,” said Heck.
Donaldson is one of the team’s two returning sophomores for the ‘05-’06
season, with the other being Stephanie Hart, who will again serve as the
team’s point guard.
“Stephanie will be our floor leader this season,” said Heck.
Other newcomers to the Cerro Coso program come from all parts of the
United States.
Three players from Detroit areare expected to make an impact early on.
Mariah Bomberry is a 5’11” post player who will complement Graybill with
shooting range from both the inside and outside. Forward Angel Lash has
“looked good this fall” according to Heck, and has developed a scoring
ability.
Antionette Tyson is the third new Cerro Coso player from the Motor City,
a 5’11” post player.
Paris Allen will see time at shooting guard. The 5’7” freshman from
Fontana has a brother who plays at Burroughs.
Heck is also high on 5’6” Dar’Shelle Lynch from Las Vegas, who he called
“a tough defensive player.”
Venitia Burton and Darachelle Johnson round out the Cerro Coso roster.
“We’re a real young team, and we’ll make some mistakes, but I believe
we’ll get better as the season goes,” said Heck.
“We don’t have a lot of experienced depth, but we have athleticism and
decent size, and if we can stay healthy, we’ll be competitive.”
Sunday, November 13, 2005
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The Daily Independent.
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