By Ted Waddell
LOCH SHELDRAKE — November 21, 2000 – Last year’s edition of the Sullivan County Community College (SCCC) women’s basketball team wasn’t exactly the greatest squad to hit the court — what with a 2-15 record — but it was the first women’s team fielded by the local community college in recent memory.
Dean Smith, coach of the fledgling women’s basketball program, has high hopes for his hoopsters in their second season.
“We are looking to win ten games this season and advance to the Region XV playoffs being held in our house, the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse,” he said.
“If everyone plays up to their capabilities and gets better every day like they have in practice, maybe we can give the number one team a scare,” said Smith. “The girls expect to win the region, or at least have a strong showing, and maybe go on to the nationals.”
According to Smith, the Lady Generals got “destroyed” in a lot of games last year, but contested every possession on the floor.
“If you don’t have the horses, you aren’t going to win the race,” he recalled of last season’s squad. “We didn’t have the thoroughbreds.
“If we have a good effort from our five starters and our sixth man, we have a chance to do something special,” Smith said of the 2000-2001 season. “I have a positive feeling about this group of kids… they believe in each other.”
Smith has a real commitment to athletics, but feels that academics takes priority over college level sports. “Our team grade point average was over 3.0 last year,” he said. “We want to top that this year.”
The Lady Generals regular season began Nov. 11 with a 60-58 win over Monroe Business College in the Bronx, in a game that was decided in the closing seconds as Livingston Manor grad Amanda Cox nailed two points from the free throw line. In the Region XV opener, Cox scored 31 points and Liberty grad Shavon Bryant racked up 12.
The Lady Generals’ home opener is against Ulster County Community College on January 21. This year’s schedule of 20 games is evenly divided between home and away.
Lady Generals at a Glance
• Janise “Easy” Ashe, 5-foot-2 sophomore guard from Brooklyn (Martin Luther High School). Co-captain last season. “She’s a great assist person and the third leading scorer on last year’s team. Big heart, little feet (size 4 youth). Great team player and student.”
• Shavon “Answers” Bryant, 5-foot-4 sophomore guard from Liberty (Liberty High School). Co-captain, team MVP, leading scorer and All-Conference last year. Liberty High School girls’ basketball MVP 1998-99.
• Amanda “Sunshine” Cox, 5-foot-6 freshman guard from Livingston Manor (Livingston Manor CS). Missed last season at SCCC due to nagging injuries. Livingston Manor’s all-time scoring leader and one of Section IX’s all-time greats. “Amanda will be a superstar… she can shoot, pass, play ‘D&Mac226;’ and sell popcorn.”
• Lorraine “Lola Bunny” Fernandez, 5-foot-7 sophomore forward from the Bronx (DeWitt Clinton High School). Last season’s second leading scorer and number three in rebounds. Expected to set a record at SCCC with five or six varsity letters. “One of the school’s best athletes.”
• Hanifah “The Saint” George, 5-foot-7 freshman forward from St. Thomas USVI (Charlotte Amalie High School). “Our top recruit and a good one. Should average a ‘double-double’ (10 points-10 rebounds per game). Great athlete and a better person.”
• Kia “Buddah” Perry, 5-foot-9 sophomore center/forward from Brooklyn (Bishop Ford High School). All-Mid Hudson Conference player last year. Averaged 10.7 rebounds per game in 1999-2000. “We call her ‘Buddah’ because she’s our good luck charm. A great athlete who is a true big time player.”
• Tiffany “Tuffy” Simmonds, 5-foot-6 freshman center/forward from Brooklyn (Maxwell High School). “Good rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. Plays with great desire and always smiles on and off the court. A welcome addition.”
• Carly “Space Jam” Sklar, 5-foot-1 freshman guard from Liberty (Liberty High School). “A hard worker who gets better every day in practice. Will see minutes as guard and small forward. A real hustler who will be a factor by season’s end.”
• Florissa “Flo-Jo” Williams, 5-foot-3 freshman guard/forward from Brooklyn (Clara Barton High School). “New and inexperienced. Plays with enthusiasm and is a real team player. Fast, but needs to work on fundamentals. Will improve vastly.”

SCCC’s “Home Girls”
The emergence of a women’s basketball team at SCCC has given area talent a chance to play beyond high school. Three following members of the Lady Generals’ squad hail from county high schools:
• Amanda Cox, 19, graduate of Livingston Manor Central School. “I think we work well together, and I think we’re going to play great as a team. We plan to go to win the Region.”
• Shavon Bryant, 19, graduate of Liberty High School. “I plan to help get us to the championships. We had a lot of fun last year, but we didn’t win too many games even though we worked as a team. I hope we win the championship.”
• Carly Sklar, 18, graduate of Liberty High School. “I feel privileged to be on a college team, and hopefully by next year I’ll be better than I am now. I’m just happy to be on the team.”