The Harris-Stowe State University women’s basketball team made history last season when the Hornets made their first ever appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament.
Not content to rest on the laurels of their breakthrough season, the Hornets enjoyed quite an encore performance in 2008 as they compiled a 22-9 record while earning their second consecutive berth to the NAIA Tournament in Jackson, Tenn. Harris-Stowe faced Oklahoma City in first round action on Wednesday.
After winning the American Midwest Conference Tournament title in 2007, the Hornets finished second in the league this year, but earned an at-large bid to the national tournament because of their strong season. It marked the team’s highest finish in the AMC regular-season standings. Led by coach Chris Lewis, the Hornets defeated four teams who are participating in the 32-team national tournament as well as NCAA Division II teams UMSL and Emporia State. The victory over Emporia State broke a 59-game home-court winning streak in non-conference competition.
The leader of the Hornets has been senior guard Chanel Ross, who was selected the AMC Player of the Year after her spectacular season. A native of Philadelphia, Ross averages 20 points and six rebounds a game, but she also averages 7.9 assists and 6.6 steals, which leads all NAIA players nationally. Ross was one of the top collegiate basketball players in the state, regardless of level of play. She could play with anyone. She is also getting some looks from the WNBA for some possible tryouts as well. She is a special player who can do it all.
“She has really improved her ability to make her teammates better,” Lewis said. “Chanel can score a lot of points, but the fact that she leads the country in steals and assists are two stats that lead to making teammates better and add to an overall winning team.”
Ross has also gotten excellent support from some talented players from the St. Louis area. Forward Sheri Jones (Normandy) is averaging 12.2 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds a game. Guards Erica Anderson and Carmen Weaver are also averaging eight points a game for the Hornets.
MO vs. IL
High school basketball fans are encouraged to get down to Harris-Stowe on Saturday to watch the Missouri vs. Illinois Basketball All-Star Showcase, presented by Rameybasketball.com. The event will feature five games, featuring the top high school seniors in the area as well as the upcoming top eighth-graders in town. The first game will feature best of the eighth-grade girls at 2:30 p.m. followed by the eighth-grade boys all-star game at 3:45 p.m.
The Missouri vs. Illinois High School Girls All-Star game will follow at 5 p.m. Some of the top players scheduled to play are Teandrea Smith of East St. Louis, Alisha Goodwin of Althoff, Channon Haywood of Hazelwood East and Jasmine Bailey of Normandy.
The first Missouri vs. Illinois Boys game will be played at 6:30 p.m. with the second game to follow at 8 p.m. Some of the stars scheduled to play are Drew Hanlen of Class 5 state-champion Webster Groves, Torres Roundtree, Anthony Booker and Femi John of McCluer North, Kenny Leverette and Jared Woolfolk of O’Fallon and Cornelius Chatt of Madison.
Tickets are on sale for $7 in advance at participating schools and $7 at the door.
This year’s game is dedicated to the memory of former Miller Career Academy standout Stacy Smith, who was killed in October before the beginning of the season.
King James
Normandy High basketball standout Anthony James gave a verbal commitment to attend Northern Iowa over the weekend, according to the local recruiting website stlhoopsinsders.com. The 6’2” James was one of the top shooting guards in the St. Louis area throughout his career. As a senior, James averaged 21 points a game while shooting 56 percent from 3-point range.
Earl live
I hope everyone gets a chance to attend this Saturday’s Education 4 All Author Showcase and Book Fair at the Heman Park Community Center (975 Pennsylvania) in University City. You can purchase a copy of my book “The PHL in the STL” on the history of basketball in the Public High League at the event, which is sponsored by Prioritybooks Publications. The program begins at noon with guest speakers and authors reading selections from their books. At 2 p.m., you can visit booths and purchase books. Stop by and say hello and talk a little PHL basketball history with me. By the way, the “PHL in the STL” DVD is not far away. We have video footage of close to 100 former PHL players. I think folks will enjoy it when it comes out. Stay tuned.
Everybody Loves the Drake
Congrats to St. Louisan Drake Reed, who will lead his Austin Peay team into this week’s NCAA Tournament. Morris averaged 14 points a game to lead Austin Peay to the Ohio Valley Conference title. Morris lived in St. Louis until his sophomore year in high school when he moved to Clarksville, Tenn, where he was an All-State performer in basketball and football. Austin Peay will play Texas in the first round of the South Regional on Friday at 3 p.m.
“She has really improved her ability to make her teammates better.” – Coach Chris Lewis, on Chanel Ross