2012-2013 Tryouts
All Hard Work Brings A Profit
The Daytona State College Lady Falcons finished the 2010-11 season as Mid-Florida Conference Co-Champions. This was the first conference championship in eight years for the women’s basketball program. The Lady Falcons ended the season ranked number one in team defense in the state of Florida and finished 3rd in the final FCSAA Coaches Poll. It also marked the second consecutive FCSAA (Florida Community College Activities Association) State Tournament appearance for Coach Cal Cochran’s third year at the helm. Coach Cochran was named 2010-11 Co-Head Coach of the Year in the Mid-Florida Conference. He enters his fourth season at Daytona State with a 54-33 record. The Lady Falcons will add 8 new faces this year, as the program had four sophomores receiving scholarships. The Lady Falcons return six sophomores.
Jasmine Poole (Mid-Florida All-Conference First Team, Mid-Florida Conference Scholar-Athlete Award, FCSAA “All-Academic” Team) is the returning leading scorer and rebounder at 8.8 ppg, and 145 total rebounds respectively; Jamila Thompson (Mid-Florida All-Conference Second Team, Mid-Florida Conference Scholar-Athlete) Thompson, averaged 5.0 ppg and 4.6 rpg as a freshman and will help anchor the Lady Falcon defense. Karen Flagg, a stellar small forward is the returning leading rebounder per average and leading shot blocker for the Lady Falcons; Stormey Smith (Mid-Florida Conference Honorable Mention) who led the Lady Falcons in steals will replace (FCSAA Academic All-State) Shanika Brooks as a key defensive player for the Lady Falcons. Shanequa Schrouder a talented combo guard will emerge as a key player to lead the offense. Daytona State has two additional returning players that will provide bonus depth. Shanterra Bland (Mid-Florida Conference Scholar Athlete) a standout defensive stopper and Danisha Green, a gutsy grey shirt freshman (Mid-Florida Conference Scholar Athlete).
A capable 2011 freshmen class will add flexibility to a company that finished tied for first in the Mid-Florida Conference race last season. With the loss of Diana Choibekova (FSCAA 1st Team All State, Mid-Florida All-Conference 1st Team, Mid-Florida Scholar Athlete), Mekiala Qualls (FSCAA Academic All State, 2010 1stTeam All Mid-Florida Conference, Top 40 NJCAA JUCO All Star) and Daphne Walker (2011 1st Team All Mid-Florida Conference, Top 40 NJCAA JUCO All Star) several student athletes will be counted on to fill the gap. The guard corps will include Veronica Ryan; a savvy playmaker from West Port HS, Ocala, FL. Shiquita Williams, School of the Future HS, heady scoring leader hails from Philadelphia, PA.
The forward and center positions bolsters the Falcon defense replacing two time, 1st team All Mid-Florida Conference forward Walker. Two players who will also bring added depth are Osha Jones the most improved player from Rush-Henrietta HS in Rochester, NY and LaTaijh Harrison a former AAU Jacksonville Lady Ram, also led Bishop Kenny HS, Jacksonville, FL in rebounding.
Under Coach Cochran’s three seasons at the reins, two players have received FCSAA All-State honors; eight players have received 1st Team All Mid-Florida Conference honors. Twenty players have received Mid-Florida Conference Scholar Athlete Awards. Eleven players have received FCSAA “All Academic” Team. Two players have received NJCAA Academic All American and one has received Daytona State College Hall of Fame honors. Qualls received the 2011 Sandy Miller Award, the highest award given by FSCAA for Women’s Basketball. She became the first honoree since the program began in 1998. In his tenure at Daytona State College, Coach Cochran has initiated several new programs. Included are the Jr. Falcon Reading Program at the Daytona State College Early Childhood Development Learning Center and the Peer Tutoring Partners (PTP, an academic support strategy for student athletes).
Daytona State College Lady Falcons, where, “Doing the little things right…WILL MAKE THE BIG THINGS HAPPEN
