The Lady Pride have been going through a transitioning phase. After winning the OCCAC last season, the Lady Pride (9-8, 2-3 in OCCAC) returned only two sophomores from last season’s squad and have recently been bitten by the injury bug. With the adversity they have faced this season, their assistant coach Rochelle Meinking and captains sophomore Alisha Grieves and freshmen Jana Gross and Jessica Pierre have helped the team persevere.
“We need her,” said forward, Pierre, about guard Chelcie Gullet who has missed a few games due to a high ankle sprain.
Guard, Gross has been handling the point guard duties in the absence of Gullet. Gross said it was necessary for her to play well with Gullet being injured.
“I have the ball most of the time, so I had to step up,” Gross said.
Gross is ranked top three in the nation in assists, according to the Lady Pride’s Web site, which is updated by Meinking.
Coach Meinking “does everything”
The maintenance of the Lady Pride’s Web site is just one of her duties. She also takes down statistics for the games, sets up plays for practices and reports the Lady Pride’s stats to the NJCAA “in order to get all these kids recognition on the national and regional [level].”
“Whatever the team needs,” Meinking said.
Meinking, who has been playing basketball since she was a kid, coached at her alma mater, Dixie High School, before becoming assistant coach for the Lady Pride. Meinking holds the team together, Gross said.
“She does everything for us,” said Pierre. “She’s a cool girl.”
Meinking appreciates her team captains, as well.
“It’s a nice mix,” Meinking said about the team captains. “Each one brings something positive to the team.”
The Lady Pride does charitable work
That same positivity is also seen through the charitable causes the Lady Pride participates in off the court. In October they participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Cancer Walk and the 23rd Annual Ghost N Goblins Run. Meinking believes the community service has helped the team’s chemistry.
“Team chemistry is a big part if you want to be successful and I think a lot of that stems from the community service we did,” Meinking said.
The Lady Pride will be participating in the 2009 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s (WBCA) Pink Zone that is being held on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14th, according to the team’s Web site. The proceeds go the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund.
Plans to finish season strong
Charitable causes aside, the Lady Pride hope that with some of the players coming back from injuries that they can make it to the NJCAA tournament. The NJCAA tournament will be held on Feb. 21 and with a 2-3 conference record the Lady Pride are optimistic about their chances of getting completely healthy and making the tournament.
“We are all looking forward to having nine healthy bodies, hopefully in time for the tournament,” Meinking said.