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Head coach Rod Hairston looks to lead the Raiders to a fifth consecutive state title this season
*** Content will be added throughout the week***
By James A. McCray III
Prince George's County, Content Manager
The common sentiment around the Eleanor Roosevelt Lady Raiders basketball team is to not be the class. The Lady Raiders 2009 senior class, however, wants to be the class to continue the tradition, continue the winning ways of the program and continue to write its own pages of history in the Maryland high school history books.
"You want to make history," Roosevelt's Elashier Hall said. "You definitely don't want to be the class that couldn't get it done."
Brooklyn Park High School (Baltimore) won four consecutive state titles from 1985-1988 (Class C) and the fifth straight title in 1989 (Class 1A).
And with the start of the 2008-09 season, Roosevelt is now on the quest to become the second team in state history to win five consecutive state titles after it finished last year with a 52-50 victory over Arundel to secure the fourth.
"I am always excited about the start of the year," Roosevelt head coach Rod Hairston said. "I think this year is an opportunity to truly make history. This is a senior-laden team, and I am excited to see these girls grow in understanding the game."
Hairston will indeed command a starting five with a wealth of talent as each of the starters has already committed to play basketball at their respective university or academy.
Along with Hall, Olivia Applewhite, Alexis Mulloy, Nickia Gibbs, and Ahjah Hall each look to lead a Raiders team ranked 45th nationally according to ESPN rankings, and become authors in their own rights with writing new pages of the state history books.
"We feel like we have worked hard for the last three [state titles]," Applewhite said of the senior class. "It means a lot to close out our senior year."
With all of the talent however, Hairston wants his team to evolve even further on the floor this season and believes that his team can do more than simply use their talents to win games.
"I want my kids to experience basketball on a different level," Hairston said. "I want them to be able to think through the game, see the game from a coach's perspective. I want them to grow in the game, and I hope that becomes a challenge for them this year."
On how the program as maintained its winning ways, Hairston added: "I think it is more of the tradition. There is a lot of responsibility given to the upperclassmen to pass on to the younger girls the tradition and show them the dedication it takes to win."
"The last class passed the torch to us," Mulloy said. "We have to keep it going. We [have] to work with the underclassmen to get them going and keep the tradition going."
Going after a fifth title will serve as motivation going into this season for the Raiders and if the tradition continues, Hairston and the rest of the team will have a new tradition all its own, brushing off the dust on history books.
SURRATTSVILLE
Head coach: Demario Newman (fourth year)
Last year: 17-9 (1A South regional champions)
On opening night, that is the exact moment when Surrattsville Hornets head coach Demario Newman will realize that it is indeed a new season.
"I am excited," Newman said about the start of the new season, "but it won't hit me until the ball goes up in the air."
When the ball does go up in the air, and the Lady Hornets step onto the court, they will do so with hopes of defending their 1A South regional title from last season.
They will do so with the help of only three seniors on this year's team including senior guards Endia Hill and Chanae Shorter.
Gone is double-double threat Brittney Barber who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds last season and gone is the 10 point average of Keianna McCollum.
However, Newman believes that this year, despite the loss of size on the inside that he had last season, that the 2008-09 version of his team will feature more speed.
"We are a tad bit faster than we were last year," the fourth-year head coach said. "This year we will be focused on speed and have a more up-tempo style of play."
The only negative that looks to sting the Hornets going into the year is the youth factor, according to Newman.
However, the goals will not change as he and the Hornets look for a return back to UMBC, home of the girls' basketball state tournament.
HENRY WISE
Head coach: Walter Clark (second season)
Last year: 17-4 (4A South)
If there is anything such as good problems, then Henry Wise head coach Walter Clark admits that he has them.
With the talent level surrounding the Pumas, Clark will have to distribute playing time amongst a wealth of good talent this year.
"I am excited about this year," Clark said. "We have a lot of people coming back and we have some freshmen ready to contribute to the program. I have a good problem in that six or seven players are competing for major playing time."
Leading the team from the point guard position will be Janay Borum. Tiarra Smith and power forward Breanna Gibson also look to lead Wise past its finishing spot last season, the 4A South semifinal.
"I like our size this year," Clark said. "I also like the competitive nature that the team shows against each other in practice. Now, all we have to do is transfer how they play on the court against each other to our games."
As the season is set to get underway, Clark does note that he would like his team to improve on defending better. He also wants the team to play as just that, a team and play together.
The record from last year --17 wins and four losses-- played a large part for the Pumas as the record set the team motto for this year.
"Our motto is 17-4 won't be good enough," Clark admitted. "We want to improve on 17-4 and get in the rare air of C.H. Flowers and Roosevelt."
BOWIE
Head coach: Michael Hines
Last year: 15-9 (4A South)
The Bowie Bulldogs lucky number just may be six. As in six returning players to the 2008-09 version of the Bulldogs.
Head coach Michael Hines will be surrounded by experience and talent going into the season.
Back is Jasmine McIntosh who averaged 15 points per game last season. Along side McIntosh is Quinnipiac University-bound Robin Keke and fourth-year varsity point guard Micha Broadnax.
"We have a young team, but we should compete very well this season," Bowie head coach Michael Hines said in an e-mail.
Other Lady Bulldogs garnering attention from top colleges include sophomore forward-center Amara Mbionwu, and juniors Lashana Lewis and Sharnel Huff.
tmccray@digitalsports.com
