By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
In some programs, when you’re projected star returner goes down in the first game of the season, it spells doom.
Not the case this season for Angelyn Brown’s Livingstone Blue Bears.
Brittany Wright entered the first game of the year as the team’s top returning scorer and rebounder. She left that game against District of Columbia with a broken nose.
Brown turned to a team effort to win the Lincoln Tournament.
“It was just hard work, to be honest with you,” Brown said of winning the title. “We didn’t shoot all that great, but we showed a lot of heart. A balanced attack really helped us.”
Wright’s absence gave senior Kayler McBride a chance to step up. She had games of 24 and 21 points and was named MVP of the event.
It was an eye-opening performance for McBride, one of only two seniors. She had just three double-figure games last season.
“She had a real good preseason,” Brown said. “She’s one of our best shooters. She has a high basketball IQ.”
Junior guard Montiay Harrison scored 9.3 points last season and made the CIAA’s All-Rookie team. She is off to a great start, already matching last season’s high of 20 in the first tournament. She also added a 15-point effort.
Brown said there was no timetable for Wright’s return. But she is expected to be a force.
Wright stands in at 6 feet but is listed as a guard, which should give CIAA teams matchup problems as the Blue Bears try to rebound from a 9-19 season.
Wright averaged 13.4 points and eight rebounds last season. She had a high of 27 points against Saint Paul’s and pulled down 17 rebounds against Virginia Union.
She’ll get a lot of help from a standout recruiting class brought in by second-year coach Angelyne Brown.
The team MVP will be joined by some explosive freshmen, led by 5-9 Endia Hill, 5-6 Khalia Boston and 5-6 Kelcyn Manurs.
“We tried to get more athletic,” Brown said.
Mission accomplished.
Hill averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds as a high school senior.
Manurs led her high school in scoring all four years and had 1,100 career points. As a senior, her averages were 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Boston is a deadly 3-point shooter.
More importantly, all come from winning programs. Hill won three straight regional titles in Maryland. Boston led her team to four district and three regional titles. Manurs was Regional player of the year. Both are Virginia natives.
Brown brought in post player LaBarbara Martin, who, at 6-3, is the heir apparent to senior center Samantha Joseph, also 6-3.
Cassaundra Rhodes is the team captain and should improve on her 8.7 scoring average. She grabbed four rebounds per game.
Elicia Gilliam-Washington, a junior, averaged six points and four rebounds. Rashida Elbourne scored at a 6.9 clip and had a high of 17.
Sophomore forward Shaniquia Alston and junior forward Shaquetta Brooks should also help.
This is Brown’s 17th season in coaching. It could be her best.