SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College will have a women's basketball team for the first time in several years.
Tierre Ramsey, a 2001 graduate of N.C. Central University, is the head coach of the program. He has been busy recruiting student-athletes to the program since he was chosen for the position in May.
There are 12 players on this year's team, including two from Sanford - De'Ja' Bland and Tashari Wells-Tucker, who both attended Lee County High School.
Other team members are Alandra Bandy of Fredricksburg, Va., Ashley Banks of Greenville, Nekyia Baptiste of Fayetteville, Leeah Betourd of Fairfax, Va., Brianna Charles of Norfolk, Va., Tianna Christopher of Goldsboro, Lyric Flythe of Brooklyn, N.Y., Jazlynn McNeil of Raeford, Deja Owens of Fayetteville, and Sade Rogers of Fayetteville.
"Our biggest challenges are our youth and lack of experience," said Coach Ramsey, who noted that the Lady Cougars are an all-freshman team. "We will overcome any obstacles we face hand-in-hand as a team."
Coach Ramsey is optimistic about this year's squad.
"Our greatest strength will be depth, passion, and teamwork. These young ladies have developed a bond that will be hard to penetrate," said Coach Ramsey. "I look forward to the up-tempo game and high scoring atmosphere you will see when you come to our games."
Ramsey believes the Lady Cougars will fair well in conference play since teams will not know what to expect with the new program. "We will work hard day in and day out and play fundamentally sound basketball," said Coach Ramsey.
The schedule:
Oct. 21 - at Allen (Scrimmage), 30 - Blue/White Game.
Nov. 1 - Ft. Bragg, 3 - at William Peace (Scrimmage), 7 - South Side, Va., 8 - at Mt. Olive, 9 - at Patrick Henry, 11 - at Guilford Tech, 13 - at Lenoir, 14 - at Brunswick, 15 - at Denmark Tech, 18 - Louisburg, 21 - at Barber Scotia, 23 - Louisburg JV, 27 - North Country CC, NY, 28 - at Bryant & Stratton, Va., 29 - at Thomas Nelson, Va.
Dec. 4 - Virginia U at Lynchburg, 8 - New South Wales (Australia), 9 - Brunswick, 11 - Lenoir, 13 - Cape Fear.
Jan. 7 - Bryant & Stratton, Va., 10 - at Cape Fear, 12 - at Louisburg, 18 - at Clinton Jr. College, SC, 20 - Virginia U at Lynchburg, 22 - Wake Tech, 23 - Guilford Tech, 30 - at Barber Scotia.
Feb. 5 - Clinton Jr. College, SC, 7 - at Wake Tech, 12 - Patrick Henry, Va.
Members of the CCCC Lady Cougars basketball team are Alandra Bandy of Fredricksburg, Va., Ashley Banks of Greenville, Nekyia Baptiste of Fayetteville, Leeah Betourd of Fairfax, Va., De'Ja' Bland of Sanford, Brianna Charles of Norfolk, Va., Tianna Christopher of Goldsboro, Lyric Flythe of Brooklyn, N.Y., Jazlynn McNeil of Raeford, Deja Owens of Fayetteville, Sade Rogers of Fayetteville, and Tashari Wells-Tucker of Sanford.
CCCC Women's Basketball Coach Tierre Ramsey says of this year's team: 'Our greatest strength will be depth, passion, and teamwork.'