Jan. 19, 2005
Presenting your starting five from the week that was:
1. Ebony Jones
Jones still doesn’t have the name of the back of her jersey, but that didn’t stop her from supplying one of the season’s most memorable moments. The walk-on played for the first time all season Thursday, entering at the 2:00 mark of the second half against Charleston.
Jones was so excited, she forgot who she was subbing for. Fortunately, a more unforgettable moment awaited.
With time winding down, Jones took an upcourt pass from Larissa Kulcsar and banked in a wide-open layup, sealing the Gamecocks’ 67-37 victory.
“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, there is no defense. Do not mess this up. This will be the most embarrassing two points I have ever missed,'” Jones said.
In any other 30-point blowout, it would been a meaningless, garbage-time basket. But not for Jones, a former all-state selection out of Aiken HS. The layup represented a crowning achievement in her career.
“This has got to top them all,” she said.
2. Stacy Booker
Few players had a more keen insight into the College of Charleston than Booker. At the suggestion of head coach Susan Walvius, the sophomore prepared her own scouting report for the game.
Booker quickly learned how bleary-eyed the task can be.
“It took me three-and-a-half hours to watch the first half of a game,” Booker said.
With the coaches looking on, Booker presented her findings to the team in practice Wednesday.
The report paid off. South Carolina set a Colonial Center record, holding Charleston to 20.6% shooting in its 67-37 win. Booker shot 3-4 from the field, finishing with 8 points and 4 rebounds.
Care to take credit, Stacy?
“No,” she said with a laugh.
3. Angela Hunter
The Columbia HS alumna has few inhibitions when it comes to shooting threes. Hunter leads the Gamecocks in three-pointers attempted, and they’re often Freudian-deep.
It reminds me of a quote from former Kentucky star Antoine Walker, when he played for the NBA’s Boston Celtics. A reporter asked him why he shot so many threes.
“Because there are no fours,” Walker responded.
4. Melanie Johnson
Johnson threw another block party Thursday, swatting a career-high five shots in Carolina’s rout over Charleston. She’s the second Gamecock this season to break the freshman blocks record (Lakesha Tolliver did it three games earlier).
Both players, though, have a long way to go to topple another milestone. On Sunday, TCU’s Sandora Irvin – the niece of former Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin – blocked a Division I-record 16 shots against Alabama-Birmingham.
5. Jose Mori
Who? He’s the University of Florida assistant coach who opened our interview by asking me a question, about Steve Spurrier. He also churned out quotes like a Vegas slot machine.
Talking about point guard Tishona Gregory, he offered this beauty:
“She has a Minnie Mouse complex. She’ll puff out her chest and think she can run through a brick wall.”
Flattering. I think.
