By Rob Potter
LOCH SHELDRAKE — November 30, 2010 — What a difference a year makes!
Coming off a somewhat disappointing campaign last year, the Lady Generals are amped up to make this year a winner.
Just ask Sullivan County Community College (SCCC) Coach Sara Thompson Tweedy.
“I have been very pleased with the way the Lady Generals have played during the first month of the 2010-2011 basketball season,” she said.
Since losing their season opener to Westchester Community College on Nov. 4 at the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse on the SCCC campus in Loch Sheldrake, the Lady Generals have won five straight games.
And with a huge 71-49 victory over Borough of Manhattan Community College on Nov. 20, SCCC improved its record to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in Region XV.
Included in that winning streak is a 62-56 comeback thriller over Herkimer County Community College in the championship game of the inaugural The Lodge at Rock Hill Classic Tournament.
With 16 more regular season games to play over the next three months, the Lady Generals have a very good chance to exceed their 7-game win total from last year.
During the 2009-2010 season, they posted a 7-15 overall record and finished sixth in Region XV with a 7-12 mark. The season ended with a loss to Borough of Manhattan CC in the first round of the Region XV Tournament.
“We would like to finish as one of the top four teams in the region this season,” Coach Thompson Tweedy said in a recent telephone interview.
Thompson Tweedy, who is in her third year of leading the Lady Generals, noted that the team’s progress this season is part of a long-range agenda.
“We really have a five-year plan,” she said. “This is year three of that plan and it’s our goal to be one of top four teams in the region.”
By winning three of its first four Region XV games this season, SCCC seems to be well on its way to achieving that goal.
“Already I have seen a great deal of improvement from last season,” Thompson Tweedy said. “Eventually, we would like our women’s team to be as successful as the men’s basketball program here at Sullivan and be contenders for regional and national championships every year.”
The 16 members of this year’s SCCC women’s basketball team are: Sonia Andrades, Catherine Betances, Savasia Caraballo, Alyssa Corbett, Brittney Edwards, Constance Fripp, Destiny Harmer, Luna Jefferson, Kashara Jenkins, Erin Lane, Ashara Morris, Edith Santiago, Taisha Sherman, Vanessa Short, Nyoki Tate and Kunnuh Wisseh.
Two of the Lady Generals – Alyssa Corbett and Nyoki Tate – played their high school basketball right here in Sullivan County. Corbett graduated from Liberty Central School back in June. Tate graduated from Monticello Central School in June 2009.
Helping Thompson Tweedy guide the Lady Generals are Assistant Coaches Diana Traugot and Carl Graham and Managers Tyrek Joyner and Alice Wilcher.
The Lady Generals have used a couple of different starting lineups and received contributions from some key reserves to start the season with a near perfect record.
Some of the thoughts which Thompson Tweedy shared about those starters and key reserves are as follows:
Savasia Caraballo, freshman, point guard: “Savasia broke her ankle four games into last season. We petitioned the NJCAA for her to get that year of eligibility back. She can shoot the 3-pointer and has worked very hard in the offseason on all of her basketball skills.”
Brittney Edwards, sophomore, center: “Brittney injured her knee in a car accident over the summer. She is trying to get her game back to where it was last year. She is trying her best and we are very happy with what Brittney is contributing for us.”
Destiny Harmer, sophomore, small forward: “She’s got a great dribble drive. She is able to take two steps, get past the defender and go right to the basket. Destiny also has a very high basketball IQ.”
Kashara Jenkins, sophomore, small forward/power forward: “She is always ready to play. She is a hard-working, positive player who is ready to help wherever we need her.”
Taisha Sherman, sophomore, small forward: “She is a true three [small forward]. She has so much natural ability and she works very hard.”
Nyoki Tate, sophomore, shooting guard: “She was our leading rebounder last season. She is our best defender, hands down. She’s also the team captain. Nyoki never slacks off on a play, she always gives 100 percent. I have so much respect for her as a player.”
Alyssa Corbett, freshman, point guard: “I would like to see her be a little more aggressive at the point [guard position]. She will get more confidence the more she plays. She is great at passing the ball and she has a very good basketball IQ.”
Sonia Andrades, freshman, power forward: “She has a great shot from the baseline. Every time she takes that shot, I expect it to go in the basket. Sonia was our leading rebounder in our first four games, averaging 7.7 rebounds. She’s a really good basketball player.”
Vanessa Short, freshman, shooting guard: “She just never quits. I like the way Vanessa can get past a defender and take a shot. We have a lot of confidence that when she takes a 3-point shot it is going in the basket.”
Luna Jefferson, freshman, small forward: “Luna will make a name for herself. She could end up as one of the best players to go through our program. In our first four games, she was our leading scorer by averaging about 14 points a game.”
Kunnuh Wisseh, freshman, center: “She is an excellent player. She is a strong post presence. She works hard to get rebounds and defend the other team’s post players.”
Edith Santiago, freshman, point guard: “Edith is very quick and fast. She can get past her defender and then make a nice pass to one of her teammates. She’s also vicious on defense.”