Amira Hutchinson looks toward the basket at a practice Dec.17, 2013. (Staff photo by Samantha Sciarrotta.)
Rebecca Altman dribbles while Ashley Palombi defends during a practice on Dec. 17, 2013. (Staff photo by Samantha Sciarrotta.)
What’s a mother to do?
That’s the question facing Lawrence High girls’ basketball coach Dana Williams, who lost every starter from last year’s landmark season, and who returns to the court after becoming a mother for the first time over the past year.
Last season, while Williams was still carrying now-4-month old Shea, Lawrence broke the school’s all-time victory record by going 20-7. It reached the Mercer County Tournament finals for the first time before losing to Trenton Catholic, and reached the second round of the Central Jersey Group III tournament before losing to Neptune. Daphne Ginn became a 1,000-point scorer and is now playing at Stevens Institute of Technology. But Ginn and a lot of other players are gone, and Shea will no longer be there at every turn.
“I love that we had such a great season last year while I was pregnant because I feel like Shea was a part of it since she was with me for all the games and practices,” Williams said. “That team was really something special to me and we called ourselves a family; and Shea will always, in a way, remind me of them. I’d like to think she was my good luck charm.”
Having five solid seniors in the starting lineup was pretty good fortune as well, but even with them gone Williams doesn’t plan on a major slip backward, saying, “I really don’t believe in rebuilding years. That’s the first thing I said on day one of tryouts.”
The coach said the Cardinals will have a different look from last year and is enthused by the work ethic they have shown. A key returnee is sophomore Dominique Peters. In her first season, she scored 110 points despite limited playing time behind three All-Colonial Valley Conference guards. Peters stepped up in a Mercer County Tournament win over Allentown with 16 points.
“She has improved dramatically and will be a leader for us this year,” Williams said. “(Senior) Tatiana Hewitt was another guard from last year’s team who is lightning fast and has incredible leadership,” the coach added. “She has embraced the leadership role as a senior point guard this year and after being a part of such a successful team last season, I can tell by her work ethic and dedication she wants to have another great year.”
Like her coach, Hewitt has no interest in starting over.
“We don’t plan on rebuilding,” she said. “We’re starting back up right where we left off. Yes there are some things that have to be done differently but I’m just as excited for this season as I have been for any other season. All I can do is be a leader for my team and give 100 percent at all times.”
Williams feels the team will be sophomore driven, as she also likes the potential in guard Erika Allen and Njeri Robinson. The athletic Allen has the type of speed that meshes well with Williams’ defensive and fast-break philosophies. Robinson has earned a starting spot after showing great improvement due to countless hours playing over the off-season.
“I’m excited about what this group will bring in years to come,” Williams said.
Also on the varsity team are seniors Alicia Forgione and Amparo Pozos, juniors Courtney Cunningham and Chidinma Nwachukwu and sophomore Yasmin Rubio.
One thing that Lawrence has going for it is that the returnees understand the Cardinals can be successful after years of mediocrity. Reaching a county final can do that for a team.
“Confidence is everything this year,” Williams said. “The returners knew it was not just talent that made our season such a success last year but it was that sweat on practice days that gets the job done.
“Game day should be our easiest day of the week, and the girls are buying into that because they saw it work last season. I think making the MCT final last season and being so successful will have a lasting impact. We know we can be competitive and understand more what it takes in the gym on practice days to reach high expectations on game day.”
Williams’ expectations this year are no different than in the past. She wants the team to strive for 20 wins, a state berth, and she wants it to get better each day.
As for the coach herself, her motor is in over-drive. Forced to give up her varsity soccer coaching job due to her new arrival, Williams did not coach in the fall for the first time in four years and admits she missed it tremendously.
“To say I love coaching is an understatement,” said Williams, whose mom and husband have volunteered to step up their Shea duty so Dana could return to the bench. “I was definitely busy though with a newborn, but I made sure to talk hoops and soccer with her every chance I could.”
In fact, that served as a lullaby.
“I don’t know if it’s good or bad,” Williams said with a laugh, “but talking about basketball plays usually put her right to sleep.”
Coaches at any level, be it a mom or a dad; be it high school, college or pro, often times say that having a child sometimes softens their edge. Becoming a parent opens up a whole new world of responsibilities that sort of makes a basketball loss a little less devastating and makes them a little more mellow. That’s not quite the case here.
“Honestly, coach is the same,” Hewitt said with a laugh. “She’s the same great coach she’s always been, ready to start a new season.”
Presented with the question of whether she will have more patience or still have a tendency to go off, Williams laughed.
“We just had a scrimmage, and I still go off!” she said. “I’m too passionate about this sport to change.”
That being said, there are some subtle differences.
“Having a baby is life changing,” Williams said. “It really has made me not sweat the small stuff as much as I used to, and to appreciate the little moments and relationships that you have in life, and to realize what is really important.
“I’d like to think that I’ve always been pretty patient. My goal is always for these girls to have a great experience and I think I just want that for them so much more now that I’m a mom because I only want the best for my daughter now and I’d want her future coaches to want the best for her as well.”
Her daughter certainly started with the best — being a part of the best team in Lawrence history.
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