Page 10 - Laker Connection Fall 2011

“I immediately saw some flicker of recognition and acceptance, and it was at that point that we committed to refo- cusing ourselves to start another streak of wins and not lose another game,” Cox recalls. And that’s exactly what hap- pened. From that point on the Lakers played six games against some of the best teams in the country, and won by 25, 26, 16, 23, 17, and 19 points. An av- erage margin of victory of 21 points in six games against the best Division II had to offer; the last four of which were
against teams that ended up ranked in the top 12 nationally (Lander #six, Bent- ley #eight, Shaw #12, Michigan Tech #two) in the final USA Today ESPN Poll.
Or maybe you tell about... “The Se- cret” of the national championship. Ex- cept, as is always the case in sports, there really is no secret to the Lakers’ success, to the national championship. What there is, according to Cox, are four key factors, four aspects of a winning team that gave that team, also in Cox’ words, “a chance to win it all.”
“In no particular order, it takes tal- ent, depth (especially in our system that requires constant and extreme defen- sive pressure), chemistry, and experi- ence,” he says. “This year we had it all. We did suffer a little in depth, especially after our starting point guard, Genesis Kelly, went down with an ACL tear in game three and was out for the season, and we were inexperienced in the post, starting a freshman at center, but we had amazing talent and team chemistry.
“I knew last summer we had the in- gredients to do it, but the key was com- ing together and staying together. The year before we came together and fin- ished strong, winning the conference tournament and then going into the re- gionals as the second-ranked team, but we lost in the first round. We all knew that for whatever reason, we didn’t stay together to the end. That was our focus this year, and it started last summer. It takes a concerted effort and a lot of sac- rifice on everyone’s part. Teams don’t
8 THE LAKER CONNECTION
A Champions’ Welcome: Rain didn’t dampen spirits on Sat- urday, Mar. 26, when the women’s basketball team returned to campus from their stellar win. A couple hundred students, faculty, staff, alumni (including several former Laker basket- ball stars), friends, supporters and the media gathered at the Athletics & Fitness Center to celebrate the team that earned the first national championship in Clayton State history.
Six days after winning the NCAA Division II national championship, the women’s basketball team picked up another set of honors – this time from the Georgia Senate and the Georgia House of Repre- sentatives. In dual cere- monies on the morning of Mar. 31, at the Georgia State capitol, the Lakers’ accomplishments during their 35-1 season were recognized by two Senate resolutions and a House resolution, all introduced by members of the Clay- ton County delegation.
LAKERS HONORED