- WEEKLY POLL
Ulis, Waite dominate 2006-07 All Press girls’ team
By J. Patrick Eaken
Press Sports Editor
sports@presspublications.com
Six Lady Indians, but not “Ten Little Indians,” are becoming a common theme in girls’ basketball in these parts.
It comes as no surprise to many coaches on this side of the Maumee River that Waite senior guard Shareese Ulis has been voted the 2006-07 Alan Miller Jewelers Press Player of the Year, again.
Ulis rarely smiles on the basketball court, but on Jan. 13 in Waite’s 67-43 rout of Columbus East at the Waite Field House, the Indians’ senior couldn’t hold back. Ulis, who finished with 16 points in the win, hit a free throw in the third quarter to score her 1,000th point of her four-year varsity career. Tonya Washington, who finished her career with 1,001 points in the 1990s, is the only other Waite girl to surpass 1,000 career points.
“I have enjoyed coaching her throughout her career,” Waite coach Manny May said. “She has matured a lot over her four years and shown steady improvement every year. She played AAU (for Team Unity out of Toledo) ball and played in our team camps last summer, so she's been doing a lot to get better. She’s improved her game over the course of each year she’s played.”
It probably comes as no surprise to many that May won voting for Press Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season, even though others, such as Genoa’s Tom Kontak, Eastwood’s Jim Gracyk, and Oak Harbor’s Dick Heller got votes.
But the third ranked 19-1 Division I Waite Indians got more honors than just those for Ulis and May. As the Indians were working on a plan this past week to get to the Norwalk regional for the second straight season, 10 area coaches and six media members were voting three Lady Indians to the All-Press First Team.
Joining Ulis are senior guard Anedria Allen and 6’3 freshman forward Natasha Howard. Howard is the daughter of former University of Toledo star Anthony “Scoop” Williams. Allen, unfortunately for Waite, is out for the tournament with an injury.
May says that Howard reminds him of a “young Magic Johnson.”
“She is an all-around good player and a joy to coach,” May said. “She's a person you want to coach. In practice she is pleasant and doesn't complain. She doesn't frown. She does everything the way you say.
“She can do it all over the court. She can post up; shoot the jump shot — a very versatile player. Her jumper will improve as she progresses. She can handle the basketball like a guard.”
A fourth Indian, junior guard Kenya Middlebrooks, joins her teammates as a second team choice, and two other Lady Indians received votes — sophomore forward Stephanie Keaton and junior guard Courtney Jackson, bringing the total to six Lady Indians.
Joining the three Lady Indians who received first team honors is an Eagle by the name of Megan McCracken. The Eastwood senior point guard helped the Eagles to an SLL co-championship with Genoa, who is represented on the first team by 6’3 junior pivot Brittany Darling.
Coaching staff brings Waite together for third title
By Mark Griffin
Special to The Press
sports@presspublications.com
Senior guard Anedria Allen didn't get to play in last Saturday's City League girls’ basketball championship game at Waite High School.
Allen, who averaged 14 points a game for ninth-year coach Manny May's Waite Indians before seriously injuring her knee during the CL semifinals on Thursday, watched from the bench on crutches as her teammates squeaked out a 56-50 victory over Central Catholic.
“It was tough (to watch),” Allen said, but I had faith in my teammates. I love them to death and I know they love me dearly. As you can see, we came out with a victory. I trusted them.”
It was the third straight league title for the Indians, who in May's first year won exactly one game.
Trust, talent and faith – and not necessarily in that order – have been the keys to success for the Indians during their domination of the CL the past three seasons.
But, truth be told, it all starts with their head coach.
May doesn't yell and scream on the sidelines. Because he trusts them, he isn't quick to call a timeout when his team is clearly struggling. He wears slacks and an untucked shirt as he paces the sidelines, confident in knowing that what he and his assistants instructed the squad in practice will carry over to game night.
“The coaches just tell us to have faith in God and play as a team, play with unity,” Allen said. “When you come out here and keep your composure and you don't get excited ... You play every game like it's your last. They always keep us on one accord, and we just play together and have fun. When we have fun, we come out with a victory.”
Allen, who was to have an MRI on Monday to determine the seriousness of her knee injury, said that with May, what you see on game night is pretty much what you see during practice and all through the offseason.
“Coach May is really a calm, cool, collected coach,” Allen said. “He's a really mellow person. He knows how hard it is to get to where we're trying to go, to get to states. We know what kind of coach he is.”
Last season the Indians won 20 games and reached the Division I regional semifinals. This year, despite starting a freshman in the post – albeit a talented, 6-3 rookie in Natasha Howard – and losing a couple of key players from last year's group, Waite has still managed to go 18-1 and attain a No. 3 ranking in the state.
Even after winning their third straight CL title, Allen said the Indians aren't satisfied.
“The No. 1 goal this year is to win the state championship,” she said. “We have to go a game at a time. We should be 19-0. That (attitude) comes from all the hard work we put in. With all the hard work and dedication we put into this team, we deserve to be the best. We're not going to take anything but being the best.”
May credited his players, and his assistant coaches in particular, for helping the Waite program go from CL laughingstock to perennial power. The Indians' assistants are Alto King, Gardner Howard, Jim Stover and Howard Hicks.
“With coach King being with me the longest, to coach Stover to coach Howard and coach Hicks, they've done a great job with these kids, on and off the floor in the summer time and spring time, getthing them ready for this season,” May said. “They work them hard in practice. My hat's always off to my coaching staff and what they do for me.
“Coach King is my co-head coach and (teaches) offense, coach Howard is my defensive coach, coach Hicks is my strength and conditioning coach and coach Stover is just a good all-around coach.”
May said the key to turning the Indians' program around was getting the athletes to buy into what the coaches were selling.
“When you can do that, it's a good thing,” he said. “These kids have worked hard to do that, with their faith and with their game.”
The Indians were in total control against Central in the first half of the CL title game, taking a 27-14 lead into halftime. But the Irish, who started four juniors and a sophomore, fought back and took a 43-41 lead with four minutes left in game.
Down the stretch, however, senior Shareese Ulis, the two-time league player of the year, hit key baskets and free throws and added a steal to help Waite pull out the win.
“The second half I think we relaxed,” said May, who started two freshmen and a sophomore against Central. “We didn't even talk about that (at halftime), and we should have because it's a young team. They made some mistakes, but they pulled together at the end.
“They've been down this road before. They stepped up and did a great job.”
Ulis said winning the previous two CL titles helped the Indians hold off the Irish last Saturday.
“Knowing that we've been here before, knowing what it takes to win a city championship, helped us pull this game out,” said Ulis, who had 18 points. “I think winning three in a row says we're a good team. No one expected us to win the first two. We came back and won a third, so I feel that people should be believers. Even if they're not, we're gonna do what we have to do.
“Our main goal wasn't to win the City. Our main goal was to prepare for our state tournament and go out and make it to states.”
Allen, Middlebrooks unheralded to Waite success
By Scott Calhoun
Special to The Press
sports@presspublications.com
At 14-1 and ranked fourth in the state in girls Division I basketball, the Waite Lady Indians have become daily headline sports news in the greater Toledo area.
Getting most of the attention for the team’s big season are Shareese Ulis — the reigning City League Player of the Year and 6’3 freshman sensation Natasha Howard.
Ulis is widely considered the best player in Lucas County and maybe all of Northwest Ohio. Howard is tearing up the boards and torching the hoops as a prodigal stalwart in the post for the Indians.
But as coach, Manny May points out Ulis and Howard wouldn’t be what they are this season, and Waite would not be the area’s top-ranked girls team if not for senior shooting guard Anedria Allen and junior swing player Kenya Middlebrooks.
“Both are integral parts of our game. They are essential to the success of the team. Without Allen and Middlebrooks there would be no Ulis and Howard,” said May.
While Allen is more outspoken and thought provoking and Middlebrooks more of a soft-spoken type, both make big noise on the floor helping the Indians to win after win during the team’s quest for titles in the City League and potentially all the way up to the state D-I level.
“Allen is our other big offensive spark on the team. She’s more of our three-point shooter. Middlebrooks is more of our mid-range offensive player — our slasher,” May said.
Allen, a co-captain along with Ulis, is definitely no slouch on offense as she currently averages 14.5 points a game while dishing out three assists per.
“Allen’s scoring average tells you what she’s able to do. If Ulis has an off night, Anedria keeps our motor running. You need all the spark plugs going in order to win,” said May.
That is a major reason why Waite is so tough to beat. When Ulis is focused on by opposing defenses, Allen is typically the hot hand getting the open looks.
But defenses also can’t focus primarily on those two players. Middlebrooks averages a hearty eight points per game while averaging five rebounds a contest, giving May layer upon layer of options on the attack.
“When Ulis is doubled teamed, Allen’s then wide open for the shot and she’s probably going to make it. Yet when defenses adjust to defend Allen they’re not going to leave Howard open and they’re not going to leave Ulis open. That usually leaves Middlebrooks open,” May explained.
Within the team’s mental chemistry the two girls are dynamically different. While the expressive subtlety of Middlebrooks matches her silently impacting role on the court, Allen’s more prominent scoring role accurately matches her outspoken zeal.
“ Kenya’s pretty quiet. She usually doesn’t ruffle any feathers. Now Anedria, on the other hand, she’ll ruffle some feathers. She’s a fiery person. That’s what you expect from her,” said May.
Allen’s vigor toward her teammates is a primary reason why she is one of the team’s captains.
“I’m more of leader than I was in previous years. I transferred over my sophomore season and I was basically feeling out the team. My junior year I kind of stepped up a little bit but now my senior year is my turn to lead,” said Allen.
“When (Ulis) is having a bad game I feel like it’s my responsibility to step up and take the lead just as she would if she were in my position. This year I’m just trying to help everyone.”
May said Allen is getting the job done on and off the court.
“She pulls and she pushes and sometimes that gets you what you need from your team. They get mad and they’re ready to play. That’s what you need — the fireplug,” May said.
Middlebrooks, on the other hand, simply fulfills what’s expected of her on the hardwood.
“Middlebrooks is behind the two seniors so she’s not taking the leadership role because she’s had those two in front of her guiding her along the way. When she becomes the senior then it will be her turn,” said May.
For now, Middlebrooks seems perfectly content playing in the shadows of some of the area’s most prolific girls’ basketball players.
“It’s pretty fun actually. We have a good team and a good coaching staff that helps us out. There’s nothing really to worry about on this team because everyone’s putting in equal effort to achieve the same thing. It’s pretty cool,” Middlebrooks said.
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