CUTHBERT, Ga. -- Returning for her fourth season as the women's basketball head coach, Samantha O'Malley takes the court with her team tonight in Jinks Gymnasium. Coaching alongside Coach O'Malley is her Assistant Coach, Shawndra Davis, former college basketball player and Head High School Coach.
As we look into the Women's Basketball season, Coach O'Malley points out the growth the program has taken year to year since her taking the Head Coaching job.
"It is crazy to think back at my first season and replaying the hardships a first year coach goes through and being able to witness the growth of myself and the program from that first year to this moment right now." Coach continues, "The mind set of the players and the programs atmosphere has really started to come alive and it has started to become everything I had hoped for from the beginning."
Going into the season there are seven sophomore's that have played an intricate role in creating the atmosphere Coach O'Malley spoke about. Coach O'Malley says, "The returning sophomore's came back with a special look in their eyes, like they knew they didn't do what they needed to last season and this year it was going to be different."
Carrie Grisson (returner from last season), Deja Smith (returner from last season), Dionna Marcus (sophomore transfer) were all named captains for this season.
"Those three are great; they've worked hard and shown great leadership through their actions, which is really the most important way to lead," O'Malley said. "But they've also shown great leadership verbally. Our team is in good hands this year with those three being captains. If they continue to come into practice working hard and trying to get better with each day, the pieces are all here for this to be a really good team."
Deja Smith a returner who played valuable minutes both as a post and guard last season has really stepped up her game this year. Coach O'Malley, "This kid she came back with a new vengenance and it showed from day one. She has been our vocal leader and hardest worker from the get go." O'Malley continues, "It has been incredible to watch as she has really come into her own light and she has now seen what hard work can produce."
Carrie Grisson, returning guard, logged in plenty of defensive minutes last year for the Andrew College Women's Basketball team. She again, is back with the same fury! Coach O'Malley, "This kid is going to give you her everything, Carrie is special and a key ingredient to the success of our team, I look forward to watching her passion on the floor this season."
Dionna Marcus is a transfer sophomore and already has made her name known. Coach O'Malley, "I am certainly pleased to have this young lady in our program. From day one she has given me and her teammates her all." Coach O'Malley continues, "She will be a fun one to watch because she continues to grow each day."
Daycia Bandy a returner has worked her way up to the top with her relentlessness within practices. Coach O'Malley continues with, "She just won't stop, she goes, goes and goes. That has been the greatest thing to watch because her heart is so big and she just wants her sophomore year to be special."
Daja Barnes another sophomore returner has also really come to light this season. O'Malley explains, "She is another player that took me by surprise, we had a talk and I told her what to work on and she shows up and she did exactly what I said over the summer and as a coach that is a dream come true."
Indya Foster, transfer point guard, has explosively made her mark with her defense and her ability to see the floor. Coach O'Malley, "Indya is a great kid and each day she is working to become better and better both on the floor and off." O'Mally said. "If she continues to take the coaching and grow each day, her possibilites are limitless."
Jeaneen Johnson returns in the post land for the 2015-16 season. She was a sleeper last year who came in and showed she had what it took but just needed the consistency.
Coach O'Malley says, "Jeanean has come a long ways and she sent me a text over the summer that said she was ready, she was ready to be pushed and she was ready for a new start and all I could think as a coach was, let's go!"
