Women’s basketball develops under Hawley

The Saints women’s basketball team has a good core of returning players, but new head coach John Hawley knows they have a long road ahead.

Mt. Hood currently has only nine players on its active roster this season, largely due to Hawley’s arriving late in the recruiting window when he was hired last spring.  He replaced former head coach Tyler Rose, who coached the Saints for two seasons before departing for family reasons.

“We are starting out with a low number of kids,” said Hawley, who has three decades of college and high school coaching experience, including in Georgia.  “Obviously, we kind of got a late start on the recruiting piece. It was different than how it used to be in Atlanta, where there was a bigger athletic pool. Not a lot of girls around here are playing basketball,” he said.

Even so, MHCC players hope to make the most of their chance.  Six of the nine Saints are returning from last season, including standout 5-foot-10 post/wing player Delanee Martin, who averaged 10.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.  A Mt. Hood team that went 1-11 in South Region play in the NWAC, and 5-22 overall last season also returns Jesse Morris, who averaged 8.1 points and 2.5 assists.

“We have players that might have to play multiple positions,” said the head coach. “I think we’re going to be growing a lot over the next month and a half. The kids are working hard and are willing to listen and to follow our lead.”  Hawley has a big task at hand, coaching both the women’s and the men’s team at the same time.

The task grew tougher, since women’s assistant coach Shawnelle Campbell is no longer with the program, having to depart two weeks ago, he said. “She isn’t able to make the time commitment,” he explained.  Thankfully, men’s assistant coach Que Quarterman is up for the challenge to help the women’s side, as well.  “It’s just me and Q,” said Hawley with a thick Southern chuckle. “We will be alright, though.”

John anticipates coaching both the Mt. Hood men and women only for a season or two, before giving way to another individual ready to take the women’s head coaching helm.  Martin, who saw a lot of ups and downs last season, said she thinks her team is making strides in the right direction and could compete in the South.  “Everyone brings a lot of skill to the table,” said Martin. “Now, it’s all about meshing everything together and doing the little things.”

Win or lose, the Saints feel like they’re in a good growing transition, but also want to compete right away and make a statement throughout the NWAC season after finishing dead last the past two seasons.  “The overall team goal is just to give it our all, no matter the win or loss,” said Martin.

“I think this year we are really focusing in on being good teammates and individuals so the whole team can benefit from it as a whole,” she said. “We all just want to get out there and win some games while giving it our all, and if we don’t win, at least we know we gave it our best.”

Hawley also wants to win right away, but understands the program has a ways to go – even if it’s headed in the right direction.  “We’re taking baby steps,” he said. Still, “we are looking to win every game that we play,” he said.

That’s a sound approach to break out of a seasons-long funk.  Since the 2011-2012 season, the Saints have gone a combined 1-51 in the South, and 13-89 overall.   The Saints take to the hardwood on Nov. 20 in Auburn, Wash., when they square off with Green River Community College.  The very next day, they take on Grays Harbor Community College back at home in Gresham, in a game scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Mt. Hood gymnasium.  

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