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Due to her vast improvement from last season, Genoa graduate Brittany Darling
is well on her way to becoming a NCAA Division I basketball player.
The 6-5 sophomore center on the Owens Community College basketball team is a leading force for the No. 6 ranked team in the country.
Following the team’s second game, where Owens upset National Junior College Athletic Association D-I No. 14 ranked Indian River 69-64 in Fort Pierce, Fla., Darling started getting looks from major colleges.
“(Indian River’s coach) knew the type of team that we had and began talking about our team in his coaching circles, and she therefore started getting inquiries from southern based schools,” said Owens coach Michael Llanas. “It has now circled around and we’re getting Midwest colleges calling.”
Darling said the recruiting process has been a crazy one.
“I get calls every day, so usually once a week me and the coaches get together and call (four-year college) coaches,” she said. “The coaches have been great with helping me with it.”
Darling’s numbers this year show the improvement she has made as a player. She is averaging 13.6 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game. She is fourth in the country in blocked shots, and 15th in rebounding. Last year, Darling averaged 7.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.
“Her hands, her patience, and her squaring up to the basket have been major improvements for her,” Coach Llanas said.
Those improvements have led to school record performances for Darling. She has had two games this year where she has pulled down 21 rebounds – which tied a school record. She blocked eight shots in a game twice this year, which is one short of tying a school record.
Darling said the major difference between her freshman and sophomore years has been her confidence.
“When coach tells me I can do something and work on something, I take the invite and do my best every time,” she said.
Darling said she is looking for a group of coaches that will help her get better and a program that has team chemistry like Owens has this year.
Darling and her teammates will look to win a regional championship the first weekend in March. It is that weekend that Owens will host the tournament that gives one team a chance to move on to the 12-team national tournament.
Owens stands a great chance at doing that, according to Darling, because of this year’s team chemistry.
“All of us hang out off the court and it’s easier to go to practice when you know it’s with your friends,” she said. “That is why I think we are doing so well because we know each other and know what each other’s strengths and weaknesses are.”
It’s that confidence and the improvement on the court that has helped lead the Express to the brink of a conference title with two games remaining. She is a cog on a team that has improved their record from 17-13 last year to 25-3 this year.
Those three losses have come by a total of six points. One game was a one point loss to 26-1 Schoolcraft.
In each of those losses, Darling encountered foul trouble and had limited minutes. Accordingly, Coach Llanas said the team needs her if they want to win.
“Bottom line, our defense is better with Brittany on the floor than on the bench,” Llanas said.
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