Lady Bears eager to regain winning form

By Karl Lyles - klyles@heraldonline.com

Clinton Junior College women's basketball endured an 8-20 season a year ago. It was the worst mark in coach Roderick Woods' six years at the school.

Although his team is a little slow out of the gate with a 2-4 record, Woods is confident his team can compete in the NJCAA's Region X.

Takesha Littlejohn is a 6-foot-1 sophomore who led the country in blocked shots in 2008-2009, Woods said. She also was among the top 10 in rebounds as a freshman. Through six games this year Littlejohn, out of West Charlotte High School, is scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds a game.

“We are really looking for her to give us production from post area,” Wood said.

The coach said several schools are vying for Littlejohn's services next year, including Winston-Salem State, St. Augustine's, Charleston Southern and Lander.

Freshman Laquinta Guinyard leads the team in scoring with 12 points and three assists per contest. Woods has used her at the point and as a wing player.

“We depend on her scoring and play-making ability,” Woods said.

Tia Davis is a sophomore who transferred from Wilkes Community College. The 5-11 post player is chipping in nine points and six rebounds so far.

Constance McKenney, a freshman from Flint, Mich., is the team's best 3-point shooter.

Each season brings new challenges at the junior college level where players come and go every two years. Woods has 10 new faces on his roster this season.

“As a coach, I can adjust to it pretty well, but players have a harder time with it,” Woods said. “We've played five of our first six games on the road. For the freshman to play a lot of road games is tough. They don't think about all the transitioning that is going on.”

Woods hopes playing three consecutive games in Rock Hill — including Saturday's game against Louisburg at South Pointe High School — will help his squad begin to play better.

“We can't get discouraged, especially with our sophomore leadership,” Woods said. “Some of the losses came down to just three or four possessions.”

Louisburg is ranked 12th in the country, but plays in a lower classification than Clinton. The Lady Bears lost by six points at Louisburg earlier this year, although they led until the last four minutes.

Clinton women's schedule

Dec. 5 — Louisburg, 2 p.m.

Dec. 10 — Spartanburg Methodist, 7 p.m.

Dec. 12 — Atlanta Metro, 2 p.m.

Dec. 13 — at Patrick Henry, 2 p.m.

Jan. 16 — Denmark Tech at Limestone, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 17 — at Brunswick, 2 p.m.

Jan. 19 — Spartanburg Methodist, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 — Denmark Tech, 2 p.m.

Jan. 24 — TCI of New York, 1 p.m.

Jan. 27 — at Guilford Tech, 7 p.m.

Jan. 31 — at Brunswick, 2 p.m.