She’s a freshman—clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—indeed
Don’t know how she did it. Angela Mickens, after all, is only 15.
(“She’s a freshman” — clap, clap, clap, clap, clap — “she’s a freshman.“)
But that skinny little frame in that skinny little body, with three Stuarts Draft Cougars all but joining her in that Lee Lady jersey, managed to push the ball up through the crowd of hanger-ons and get the bucket. The boys team jumped to their feet and gave out a collective, “Aw, heck no.“ Some pretending to walk away in disbelief. Her older bother, Terrell, jumping with his fellow Leemen in a tuxedo sans the coat, put his fist to his mouth and shouted with the guys. Even coach Jeremy Hartman, trolling along the front of the bench, jumped in the air and pumped his fist. (Thankfully, there was no repeat of The Great Pants Split of 2008.)
The R.E. Lee student section rose to life. And began an all-too-familiar chant.
(“She’s a freshman” — clap, clap, clap, clap, clap — “she’s a freshman.“)
Well, that’s what you get when, as one of those first-year varsity players, you own the court. When you know when to cut through the lane and do it on your own. And when you know it’s time to penetrate, then pitch. Or feed your center down low. And do other things that get you named the Southern Valley District Player of the Year. No matter what year you are.
(“She’s a freshman” — clap, clap, clap, clap, clap — “she’s a freshman.“)
You see, those are the kind of things that has Hartman saying, “She’s a special player.“
They call her Muffin because, well, that’s the nickname her mom gave her. Don’t ask where Angela is and expect an answer. Now ask where Muff, Muffin or Muffie is and, well, they’re going to point her way.
(“She’s a freshman” — clap, clap, clap, clap, clap — “she’s a freshman.“)
“I like to think none of them are freshmen anymore,“ said Hartman, who picked up an honor of his own Friday, being named the district top girls coach. “We’ve reached that time of the year when it’s time to step up.“
A coach, by the way, with five freshmen on an 11-player roster.
And, you know what, they have stepped up because goal two is now down, Hartman said. They won the district tournament. Goal three up next.
“Regional championship,“ he said. “That’s it. That’s the next goal.“
(“She’s a freshman” — clap, clap, clap, clap, clap — “she’s a freshman.“)
Spurned on by an aw-shucks, put-your-head-down-and-kick-at-the-ground kid that enjoys being the little engine that does. The same engine, as coach said, that makes the Lee Ladies go. One that pulled a team, laden with talented underclassmen, to its first district title since the days of that little point guard Katy Herr. Not since this team was led by Dan Bonner and a lawsuit moved girls basketball from fall to winter — a move that cost R.E. its popular coach and had soon-to-be Southern Valley District ADs brain farting out schedules — has this team had consistency at coach.
Not since those days have they had this much talent.
(“She’s a freshman” — clap, clap, clap, clap, clap — “she’s a freshman.“)
“It feels great,“ Mickens said of her POY award. “Speechless.“
They say she works hard. They say she’s humble. She comes as advertised.
“She’s a good kid,“ Hartman says.
And she can play some basketball.
(“She’s a freshman” — clap, clap, clap, clap, clap — “she’s a freshman.“)
And it doesn’t get to her head. On the court she looks like a seasoned pro. Off the court with notebooks, pens and voice recorders shoved in her face, she morphs back and forth from slightly uncomfortable to childlike.
Her teammates all laugh with her on the court when a pass slips through someone’s hands. They all joked about who was going to hold the tournament trophy. The Lee Ladies know what they are. They know who runs the point. They’re familiar with the talent.
“I’ve been around it for so long,“ said center Daquaa Scott, a sophomore who’s raw talent will also play a role in the future of this program. “It’s nothing new to us.
“She’s just Muffie to me.“
