One of my favorite high school teams to cover during my 27-year career in sports reporting was the 1994 Wellston High girls basketball team.
It was a special team to follow and become attached to. They had a superstar player, a talented supporting cast and several key role players who did their job to help the team. The Trojanettes rode all of these elements to the Missouri Class 2A state championship in Columbia. Wellston defeated Warsaw by one point in a thrilling state final to complete a 29-1 season.
At the controls of this team was head coach Carl Davis, who not only was a good coach, but a big brother and father figure to these talented young ladies. They were a treat to watch, and their ride to the state title was something special to see.
This weekend, Davis and his girls (I mean, women) will be on the court together once again in Columbia, 20 years after their magic moment. Each year, the Missouri State High School Activities Association recognizes the 20-year anniversary of their state champions and Final Four participants. On Saturday, the ’94 Wellston team will be celebrated at halftime of the girls’ Class 2 state championship game.
“It is going to be amazing,” Davis said. “Some of these girls, I haven’t seen in years. All of them are coming and I look forward to seeing them all again. It’s going to be magical.”
That Wellston team was led by senior guard LaShonda Albert, a 6’1” guard who was one of the best high school players ever produced in the state of Missouri. Albert could do it all. And she did it with style and flair. In a district final against Orchard Farm, Albert scored 60 points and had 13 rebounds. In three quarters. She averaged nearly 30 points a game during the ’94 season.
Leading the supporting cast was her younger sister, Tanisha Albert, a 5’9” sophomore who averaged close to 20 points a game. Tanisha was a tenacious competitor who could get buckets, rebound and handle the ball.
The rest of the starting lineup included Bertha Williams, Tyresa Robinson and Latoya Watson. One of the top players off the bench was 6’0” center Barbara Washington, who earned the nickname “Lady Shaq” because of her powerful inside game. Rounding out the roster was Ersula Robinson, Benita Taylor, Bridgett Lovings, Jessica Johnson and Sabrina Little.
While Albert garnered much of the attention, Davis most fondly remembers how his girls bonded as a team with no egos or personal agendas.
“They were like sisters. They were close and they really got along,” Davis said. “This team was special to me because everyone played their role. Nobody tried to do anything that they could not do. That’s what made it a great team.”
The only downer to the weekend is that I will not be able to be in Columbia to witness this wonderful reunion of my favorite all-time teams. They were a most enjoyable team to follow. I really appreciated Carl making me an honorary Trojan. I was honored by that gesture. Congratulations to Carl and the Wellston girls of ’94.
Enjoy the weekend.
