November 1, 2021
The East Central Community College Lady Warrior basketball team is ready to hit the hardwood in 2021-2022. The team is coming off a strange season from last year that saw all of the action in the spring semester due to COVID-19. The Lady Warriors finished the year 5-10 overall and 4-9 in division play. ECCC competed in the NJCAA Region 23 tournament and picked up a bye to the second round after winning the final two regular-season games. The Lady Warriors took that momentum to Meridian and defeated the Lady Eagles, before falling to LSU Eunice in the third round to wrap up the season. ECCC hopes to bring that same energy and momentum from the final moments of last season into play this year.
The Lady Warriors return some key pieces to this year's squad in Mirial Cannon (Madison) and Wynter Taylor (Dallas, Texas) as third-year players. The duo was the second and third-leading scorers on the team last season and hauled in team-high 89 and 90 rebounds, respectively. The pair look to be leaders of the team both on and off the court.
"I'm expecting big years out of these two ladies," said ECCC head coach LaTaryl Williams. "Our other sophomores have improved tremendously and I'm excited to see them grow even more throughout this year, especially having the experience of success that we had down the stretch last season."
Other sophomores include last season's leading scorer, Sylvia Jones (Brighton, Tenn.). Jones is a leader of the floor and commands the offense and looks to build on that leadership role this season. India Singleton (Laurel) is another returner that has the ability to score in bunches and terrorize opposing defenses. Mer'Cades Miller (McCombe) is back this year and hopes to continue her consistent, steady play that she established last season, while Shemaiah Smith (Terry) hopes to be an effective post player with the ability to control the floor from underneath the basket. Cori Keats (Philadelphia), a knockdown three-point shooter, and Jacey Cooper (Pelahatchie), a highly improved player in multiple facets of the game that can prove dangerous on all parts of the floor, are back on the roster in 2021 and add even more experience to the Lady Warriors' lineup.
"We have a lot of great players returning, but we also have a really talented group of freshmen this year," said Williams. "My hope is that they continue to get better and better and plug into our system. It will be a learning curve as they continue to pick up the speed of the game, as it is so much faster than high school, but they are up to the challenge."
Kennedee' Shelton (Shreveport, La.) is a great all-around player with the ability to play on both ends of the floor, while Faith Guy (Enterprise), a Lady Warrior softball player a year ago, joins the team and brings a high level of competitiveness to the group as she is deadly from three-point range. Wel'Asia Roby (McAdams) is a long player that is very sound and has made tremendous strides in her game in the preseason, while Kaedre Denson (Philadelphia) brings a ferociousness to the team as she will fight for every point and rebound. Myeisha Scott (Jackson) is a standout player that has the ability to be one of the best to wear a Lady Warrior jersey as she is skilled in multiple areas. Angela Middleton (Pontotoc) rounds out the new faces as someone that can compete with any player on the floor, and will get after it on both ends of the court.
Along with new players, 2021-22 will see a new format as the team will now play every school in the MACCC one time, in an open-state format, as opposed to divisions with two games against each team like in the past.
"We preach it all the time, you have to be ready to play every game regardless of the format," said Williams. "Not playing teams a second time is no excuse...our plan is to come into every game focused and ready to play to the best of our ability."
Overall, the Lady Warriors have a great mix of returning talent and a group of freshmen that can play on all parts of the floor to go along with both speed and size. This combination can set the Lady Warriors for a very successful year in the MACCC.
"We will be an inside-out basketball team that plays from the post with great size," said Williams. "But, we have some dangerous players on the perimeter and have the ability to shoot from the outside well so we look forward to an exciting year."
The Lady Warriors home opener is set for Thursday, November 4 as the team plays host to the Hinds Bulldogs at 5 p.m. in Brackeen-Wood Gymnasium.
