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Sinclair becomes a proving ground in women's hoops
Area women's basketball players have come to SCC to get in position to play at Division I level.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
DAYTON — The fans are few, but the dreams are plentiful in junior college women's basketball.
Liz Shank didn't have many options coming out of Waynesville High School after helping the Spartans to a state final four appearance. She turned to Sinclair Community College, the downtown commuter school with the concrete campus. It has been a good fit despite no frills, few scholarships, no sold-out games and minimal publicity.
Extras
Shank garnered more attention at Waynesville, leading the Spartans in scoring her senior season and excelling as the first player off the bench on a final four team her junior season.
Shank said SCC is a good fit for her. She's close to home (her family lives in Franklin now) and her friends. And she is bolstering her basketball résumé, helping the Tartan Pride to an impressive 10-1 start. It's the best women's college basketball team you've never heard of.
In a signature performance earlier this month, Shank lit up Cincinnati State for 30 points, along with seven rebounds and four assists. She hit 11-of-15 field goals and 7-of-8 free throws.
She averages 12 points per game and leads the team in 3-point field-goal percentage at 46 percent.
"I would like to continue to play this game at a four-year school," Shank said. "I love the game too much to give it up. I'm improving my game and going against strong competition."
The Tartan Pride played valiantly against nationally ranked Schoolcraft College of Livonia, Mich., holding a halftime lead before falling by 10 points.
The chances for players like Shank to advance from Sinclair is simply enhanced by winning. The team is eyeing the Ohio Junior College Athletic Conference title and owns a 2-0 record. There is always the National Junior College Athletic Association Sweet 16, too.
Other local products contributing are Autumn Heflin (Alter), Megan Harbaugh (Dayton Christian), Danielle Roe and Amari Wilson (Springfield South), Carly Nance (Middletown Madison), Alisha Grieves (Botkins), Chelsi Bingamon (Greeneview) and Morgan Davis (Stivers). Texas import Shaliah Wright paces the team in scoring at 14.4 and averages 4.5 assists.
"The high school girls' basketball in the Montgomery-Clark County area is talent-rich, and I'm trying to tap into it," said Sinclair women's basketball coach Jeff Dillon, who is in his fifth year. "We're not getting academic casualties, either. That's no longer the image now with junior colleges. We're attracting student-athletes that can play game here for two years, and I'm going help move them on and help a four-year school. Our team GPA is close to 3.0.
"Sinclair is an easy sell academically."
One prime example under Dillon's watch is Saundra Hale, who is now playing professionally in Italy. The Cincinnati Purcell Marian graduate played for the Tartan Pride in 2004-05, blossomed into a D-I-ready player and eventually became the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year at Austin Peay.
"There's been a number of players at Sinclair that's gone on to four-year schools," Shank said. "That's motivational. I feel I want to prove myself as player and use this experience as a stepping stone."
Heflin, a defensive stopper added: "I'm hoping I get some looks from other colleges. Being surrounding by good players only makes me a stronger player. I'm pushed in practice here."
The 5-foot-11 Shank realizes she has deficiencies in her game, but she is working on becoming a multidimensional player, playing the 3, 4 and 5 positions.
"We have an inside-out attack, so opponents won't collapse on us," Shank said. "I play with a post mentality, but I'm not afraid to put up a 3-pointer. If I fight and scrap hard enough inside, I'm going to get my points. My teammates are going to find me."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2478 or rjackson@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Feeder program
Recent Sinclair products who moved on to play at four-year schools:
Saundra Hale (2004-05) — Austin Peay (Tenn.) (now playing professionally in Italy)
Latish Hamilton (2004-05) — Urbana
Jacole Blake (2003-05) — Urbana
Brittany Granger (2004-06) — Urbana
Heidi Messer (2004-06) — Grace College (Ind.)
