David W. Healy
dhealy@ddtonline.com
In their season opening 65-46 home victory over Greenwood Thursday night, the Greenville High School girls basketball team looked sharp and effective for many minutes of the game.
Greenville senior Jeanne Anderson led her team with 24 points and hit two big back-to-back three pointers in the third quarter, which gave the Honeybees a comfortable lead they never relinquished. Newcomer Qunitaria McCray, a Riverside transfer, made her presence known as well as she totaled 14 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Jakayla Williams showed she was a force on both sides of the court as she scored 12 points and nabbed five steals. And, seniors Lazericka Rhodes and Aaliyah Parker gave the Hornets great sparks as well. Rhodes scored eight points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out four assists. Parker finished with six points, and eight rebounds.
Yet, not unexpectedly, these individual performances did not mean that Greenville head coach Dakedreon Lampkin was totally happy after the game. Given the standard that Lampkin has set for the program, 32 minutes of effort is expected every game
“We took too many plays off, and we can not afford to do that if we want to be a good team,” Coach Lampkin said. “We just have to get back to practice and get back to work.”
Although the standard is high for this season’s Honeybees team, the players and coaches say they are not comparing themselves to last year’s team that set a school record by winning its first 31 games. Last year’s team included stars Clarkaju Warren and Mary Starnes, two great players the Honeybees know they will never be able to totally replace.
But, the Honeybees do have Anderson back.
Anderson, who averaged 14,4 points a game last season, will likely be the best player on the floor for many of the Honeybees’ games this season.
Anderson, a talented guard who with a strong sense of how to play the game, said she welcomes the challenge of more responsibility this season.
“It is definitely not going be the same, but we can still have a great year,” she said. “We did not play great tonight, but we got the win and that is what counts.”
The Honeybees next game is scheduled for Tuesday at home against Coahoma Agriculture.
