Livingstone women’s coach Andrew Mitchell has to pinch himself every couple of minutes, just to make sure he’s not dreaming all of this. Just four years ago, folks wondered if the Bears would ever win a basketball game. Now, the same people are wondering if they’ll ever lose.
Four years ago, with his already-thin team decimated by injury and illness, Mitchell had to suit up his student manager just to avoid a forfeit.
But that was then, this is now. And today, the Bears can call themselves “Defending CIAA Champs” without telling a fib. These days there are talented players all over the place, like Mitchell’s figured out some way to grow them on trees.
It’s no secret. Once people like Davonyale Tedford and Tricosa Green got the Bears over the hump, recruiting got a whole lot easier. Now, people want to play for Livingstone.
Even with this year’s shining stars Erica Deas and Julie Tarrance still involved with volleyball (along with two other Bears) Mitchell looks around the gym in early November and sees not only enough bodies, but a dozen women who can play.
“It’s been a hard road,” said Mitchell. “But now, even with four girls still in volleyball, our practice circle is still big. And even missing two All-Americans and a fifth-year senior, we’re still pretty decent.
“One thing different about us now, though, is that we’re champs. We’re a big game now for every team on our schedule. They’re all gonna come after us and play us hard and that’s why we have to be mentally and physically tough. I want us to be in the best physical condition of any team in America.”
Mitchell’s Miracle went 18-11 last season, won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association tourney and even played a game in the NCAA Tournament. This year they might be better. A whole lot better.
Three starters return, led by the dynamic Deas, a 5-foot-10 scoring machine (18.7 ppg), and the towering Tarrance, who averaged a double-double. Then there’s quick point guard Angela Thomas, who makes everything hum.
Add to that terrific trio a deeper supporting cast and a treasure chest of tall and talented newcomers.
The Bears had their claws, but also their flaws last season. They were last in the league in free-throw shooting and 10th in rebounding. They won not with blue smoke and mirrors, but by outworking other teams and by getting after it on defense.
“We shared the love on ‘D’. We buckled down when we had to,” said Mitchell. “The goal was to hold teams to 58 points. Our thinking was everybody can play ‘D’, so let’s play ‘D’ and eventually the offense will come.”
Much of that offense came in the form of Deas, a junior from Sumter, S.C., who can light it up. Best of all, Deas comes up big-time in the big games.
Tarrance, out of the Washington, D.C., area, was a shot-blocking fiend who also yanked down 10.7 boards per game and scored at a 10.5 clip.
Thomas chipped in 9.5 ppg. Mitchell says Thomas is a joker who makes everyone giggle, but she was no laughing matter to Bear opponents.
“She’s fast,” said Mitchell. “The fastest on our team. She has super speed. She was All-State in track in high school.
“Angela’s smart, too. Knows what everyone is supposed to be doing on every play. And she works on her game. Last year, she couldn’t go to her left. Now, she goes that way with ease.”
Six-footer Robyn Wright (6.3 ppg) should move into a starting role this season at the 4-spot.
Mitchell says Wright is a Division I caliber athlete who wasn’t recruited heavily because D-I schools didn’t think she was big enough to play inside. But Wright, a former AAU teammate of Deas, has fit in nicely with the Bears. She made the pass to Deas that led to her game-winning shot in the CIAA tourney title game.
Newcomers and last year’s reserves must step forward to replace the key players the Bears lost — Chanel Edwards (11.0 ppg), Adrienne Webster and Carol Williams.
Guard hopefuls are Shalika Brown, Sabrina Sanders, Miriam Baltimore, Deneatrice Marsh, Amy Linder, Deshunda Brown, Keneshia Jackson and Alycia Garrison. Battling for playing time in the paint are Martha Foye, Chloe McGinnis and Shonda Evans.
Marsh is a quick lefty, while Mitchell describes Linder as a good leader. Both will help a lot, but the keys to a real leap forward by the Bears in addressing their rebounding woes will be the addition of Evans and McInnis.
Evans, 6-2, was part of a 4A state championship team at Durham Hillside several years ago. She comes to the Bears as a seasoned veteran who has already played at Louisburg College and West Texas A&M. She was good enough to be recruited by Temple earlier in her career. Mitchell can’t wait to turn loose her athleticism at the No. 3 spot.
McInnis, 6-4, hails from the same high school as Tarrance, so there’s no telling what they’re serving in the Eastern High cafeteria. One thing they definitely are serving up is basketball players. The coach at Eastern is ex-Livingstone footballer William Chisholm. Three of his grads — Tarrance, McInnis and Baltimore — are now Bears.
Mitchell says McInnis, a true freshman, is still a bit of a project. But he adds that she has the athletic ability to run with the guards.
The talent is obviously on hand for another banner season. The key will be chemistry. Can Mitchell blend Evans’ skills with those of Deas, Thomas, Tarrance and Wright? And can he find enough playing time for strong reserves who would have been starters just a few years ago?
“So far everything has been real positive,” said Mitchell. “There haven’t been any disagreements. If I tell them to show up at 5:30 a.m., they’re all there waiting at 5:15. We keep that up, we’ve got a shot at another great season.”
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