’Jacks reload in bid to repeat

WYE MILLS – The people who thought the Skipjacks might be a one-year wonder may want to rethink that position.

Chesapeake College went from a losing record to state and region women's basketball championships and a seventh-place national finish in one short year.  Not satisfied with that, head coach Damon Nichols went out and recruited a team with more depth, versatility and offensive firepower than the squad that went 28-4 a season ago.

"I just couldn't wait to get the kids together on the court," said Nichols.  "We're going to try to see if we can repeat (as state and region champs) and go a little bit further in nationals."

The major question for the Skipjacks is how all the talent will fit together as a team.  While All-American guard/forward Denver Clyde is back, she is the only returning starter now that sophomore center/forward Rose Smith has been sidelined – possibly for the season – with a recent ankle injury.

"We're not sure how long Rose will be out," said Nichols, who said Smith is still getting medical opinions after possibly chipping a bone in her ankle last week.  "That's a huge loss for us if she's out this whole season."

Clyde, the Most Valuable Player in last year's NJCAA Division II Region XX tournament, will have to shoulder more responsibility with Smith out, but Nichols said she is up to the task.

"She's been a real leader in the preseason - very vocal about academics and her experience going to nationals and trying to get back there," said Nichols of the 6-foot guard/forward, whose rebounding and ball-handling skills allow Chesapeake to essentially play with four guards on the floor at certain times.  "On the court she's playing a little better defense than she played last year, she's knocking down her outside shots more consistently, and she's moving a little quicker than she did."

Katara Pressley, the third returner from last year's title team, looks to get more minutes off the bench this season.

"Katara's going to come in and give us some very good minutes," said Nichols of the sophomore forward.  "She's quick, she rebounds, and she can score.  She's gotten better since last year."

One of the biggest offseason acquisitions was point guard Brittany Taylor, who was a starter on last year's Allegany College of Maryland team that lost to Chesapeake in the state tournament title game.

"She's already made an impact," said Nichols of Taylor, who will play her old team Thursday night when the Skipjacks open their season at Allegany.  "She's a real strong point guard, sees the floor well, and tries to get her teammates involved as much as possible.  She's my coach on the court."

Nichols said 6-1 forward/center Najah Chambers, who played at NJCAA Division I Central Florida Community College last season, is "projected to be one of the best post players in the league.  She has very good post moves, a good sense of the game, and she has height."

Freshman guard Dejhonae Cannady selected Chesapeake "from a host of other colleges that were recruiting her," according to Nichols.

" Dejhonae's a very athletic guard," said Nichols.  "She's a scorer, she can rebound, she passes, she can do it all.  She's a very versatile player."

Meanwhile, freshman guard Sydney Small is already paying dividends.

"She's a smart kid on and off the court.  She helps others in study hall and she's just an all-around great kid," said Nichols of Small, who is one of the team's top shooters.  "She could have picked any college in the nation for academics alone, but she wanted to be close to her sister, who plays at American University.  Sydney also has the potential of being a Division I player."

Sophomore T'Naya Kebe – who transferred in from  Allegany with Taylor – and freshmen Tyonna Teamer, Brianna Lawson, and Cherelle Dobson (North Dorchester High) are all battlilng for time in the backcourt on the guard-heavy squad.

Nichols said Teamer is "another quick, fast, aggressive guard who plays great defense and is probably one of the best kids I've seen at creating her own shot and getting to the basket."  Lawson is "one of the smallest kids (5-4) on the team but has one of the biggest hearts." Kebe looks to back up Taylor at the point while Dobson "is a hard worker who will do anything you ask her to do."

"We have a whole list of guards," noted Nichols.  "Some guards are going to have to wait their turns.  It's going to be a battle in practice to see who steps it up to get into the games."

Cierra Tourville, a 6-2 center who lost 40 pounds to get in shape for the season, and 5-8 Brandee Tyler will be seeking time in the front court.

"Cierra's another smart kid in the classroom who's probably worked as hard as she's ever worked in her life to get ready for this season – and that says a lot for Cierra," said Nichols.  "Brandee is an aggressive inside player who plays good defense, rebounds and is asking a lot of questions, which I like."

James Thomas, who assisted Nichols last season, is back as the Skipjacks' assistant coach.

Nichols said he is "not going to take this season any different than I took last season" just because the Skipjacks have gone from the hunter to the hunted in the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference.

"I'm just here to teach kids and make sure they're successful in life as well as basketball," said Nichols.  "We set goals for each time we go out on the floor.  It would be nice to repeat, but if we don't . . . my main focus is academics.  I talk to them every single day about the importance of academics."

Sophomore forward/center Rose Smith is out indefinitely with an ankle injury, which could hamper the Skipjacks' hopes for repeating as state and region women's basketball champions.