Tasia Bristow (left) and Shatyra Hawkes talk about St. Frances' basketball team for the coming season. The Panthers have won the past six IAAM A Conference titles.
St. Frances Panthers(Click on the Videos link above to see additional interviews)Conference:IAAM ATeam PageScheduleHead Coach: Jerome Shelton
Key Players:
- Shatyra Hawkes - 5-3, Jr., G
- Deanna Harmon - 5-6, Jr., G
- Tasia Bristow - 5-7, Jr., G
- Brianna Hutchen - 5-10, Jr., F
- Sophie Ngobeni - 6-2, Sr., C
- Raizel Benn - 5-11, Sr., F
Breakdown:
The Panthers ruled the IAAM A Conference roost once again last season, winning their sixth consecutive championship. Despite losing Kandice Green (Seton Hall University) to graduation, St. Frances will be a force in 2008-09.
Shatyra Hawkes, arguably the area's best guard, will head up the backcourt which features Deanna Harmon and Tasia Bristow, who each played major minutes. Sophie Ngobeni will be look upon to be the frontcourt presence while Raizel Benn, off a strong postseason showing last season, will provide a steady veteran hand.
"We're going to try to use our speed in the backcourt to really set the tone to how we want to play," said St. Frances coach Jerome Shelton. "We think we have a lot of balance in the frontcourt as well as the backcourt."
The Panthers have been taken to overtime the past two championship games. A seventh straight title should be a challenge with the likes of Seton Keough and Archbishop Spalding ready to end St. Frances' reign.
"We know what we have to do. This is our third year playing with each other," said Hawkes, a first-team All-Digital selection last season. "Defense leads to offense."