Page 6 - Laker Connection Fall 2011

to-be-forgotten “Number One vs. Number Two” win over Lander at Homecoming, when Woodard scored on an out-of-bounds play with under six seconds to go, giving the second-ranked, un- defeated Lakers a cardiac-inducing, come-from-behind 83-81 win over the top-ranked, previously undefeated Bearcats... the shockingly-easy win in the rematch with Lander (possibly the sec- ond-best team in D II) in the Southeast Regional Finals... or the three blow-out victories in the Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Missouri?
Meet the Team
Renee Jackson #21
Alexiss Griffin #22
Brittany Hall #23
Breanna Fort #24
4 THE LAKER CONNECTION
Genesis Kelly #3
A native of Ft. Pierce, Fla., and the Lakers’ returning starter at point guard, Genesis Kelly suffered a torn ACL in the third game of the year and was red-shirted. Nonethe- less, she was a key member of the team throughout the year. She’ll be back for her senior season in 2011/2012. In 2009/10 she played in 29 games, starting 17, and averaging seven points a game with a high of 20 points against West Florida. Prior to coming to Clayton State, she lettered one season each at Florida Community Col- lege-Jacksonville and Hillsborough Com- munity College. She also lettered in basketball at Jensen Beach High School in Jenson Beach, Fla., and was ranked sev- enth in the state among the Top 40 prep senior prospects.
Latonda Bruce #5
A returning letterwinner from the 2009/2010 season, Latonda Bruce is a senior left-handed shooting guard who can also play the point. Averaging seven points a game for the year, she was one of the Lakers’ top three-point shooters, finishing second on the team in three point baskets and shooting percentage (38-105, 36.2%). She saw action in 30 games in 2009/2010, starting twice and averaging eight points a game with a career-high 19 points against Georgia College. A native of Montgomery, Ala., she started for two seasons at Day- tona State College and lettered for four seasons in basketball at Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery.
Tanisha Woodard #11
Arguably the most versatile player to ever wear the orange and blue, Tanisha Woodard has already written her name large in the Clayton State record book, and she still has a year to go. Speaking only of the record book; she has scored 998 points thus far in her three-year Laker career, 417 points short of Lisa Williams’ school record, an obvious target for next year, since Woodard scored 411 points (second on the team) in 2010/11. Of course, she already has the single season assist (152) and steal (125) records, both set this past year, as well as the career steals mark (314). In addition to the career points record, she also stands a good chance of picking up the career assist and blocked shot marks before she’s done. As the saying goes, she can do it all... score, pass, defend, rebound (third on the team in 2010/11)... and, rumor has it, she helps Athletic Trainer John Zubal tape ankles before practice. And that’s just the statistical measure. Woodard was at her best when it counted,
specifically at the finish of the “Number One vs. Number Two” Lander game, a contest that saw her finish with a typical 14 points, eight assists, six steals and four re- bounds, plus the award for “Best Dramatic Performance by a Laker.” With the score tied at 81 and less than six seconds re- maining, Woodard cut across the lane to take an in-bounds pass and hit a short jumper that gave the Lakers an 83-81 win. Her last second heroics weren’t a fluke – she also opened the game by hitting a three-pointer and closed the first half with another trey that gave the Lakers a tie at 41. A two-time All-Peach Belt Conference selection and the Peach Belt 2010/11 De- fensive Player of the Year, Woodard let- tered for four seasons at Rome High School in Rome, Ga, and paced Rome to two straight Region 7AAAA championships and state tournament berths during her jun- ior and senior seasons. She was also Re- gion 7AAAA Player of the Year during her junior season.
Drameka Griggs #12
“Little MeMe,” as she’s known to most of her teammates, is anything but a small presence on the floor. The local star who returned home to help lead the Lakers to the national championship, Drameka Griggs spent the 2010/11 season driving opponents to distraction with her speed, mid-range jumper, and ability to lead the Lakers’ devastating press. Coming off the bench for all but three of the Lakers’ 36 games, she averaged 11 points per game on 52.5 percent shooting from the field, in addition to hitting three-quarters of her free throws. Still, as much of a spark as she was on offense, her lightning-fast floor game was the essence of how the Lakers blew out so many good teams... pressure, pressure and more pressure. In Griggs’ case, it added up to 105 steals (second be- hind Woodard and fourth all-time for a sea- son) and 85 assists. Speaking of pressure, Griggs had to feel some pressure herself in 2010/11. A star at Jonesboro High School, the Ellenwood native spent her first college campaign at Jacksonville Univer- sity (where she averaged eight points per game), returning home for her sophomore season. All of her local fans certainly re- called the first team All-State player, Re- gion Player of the Year, Clayton County Player of the Year, etc., etc., who helped paced Jonesboro to four straight region tournament appearances, the region championship and a berth in the Georgia State “Final Four” as a senior. How do you top that? You come home and win the na- tional championship. And, she has two more seasons for additional encores.
Genesis Kelly #3
Latonda Bruce #5
Tanisha Woodard #11
Drameka Griggs #12
Shacamra Jackson #15