Pershing High guards representing PSL, Titans
The University of Detroit Mercy Ladies Basketball team saw their 2011-12 campaign get off to a rocky start, but head coach Autumn Rademacher has kept on plugging and her ladies are starting to get a rhythm just as their Horizon League season is about to commence.
The Lady Titans started the season with six consecutive losses, but have righted their ship and have won three consecutive games to improve their record to 4-8.
Leading the Titans’ surge has been two of Detroit Public School League’s (PSL) finest basketball players. Sophomore Senee Shearer and senior Jalesa Jones, Doughgirls from Pershing High School, have elevated their games and the results are victories for the Titans.
The hard luck UDM ladies have lost games by two, five and four points twice. So it is safe to say the Titans are better than their overall record. They are a competitive and determined, bunch who have a chance at redemption as they are merging their collective talents just as the all important conference games are about to start.
Leading the way for the Lady Titans is Jones. Her unselfish play has been noteworthy. In the 2009-10 season she averaged over 10 points per game, but has seen her scoring average dip five points.
No matter. In the last win over Western Michigan Jones showed her versatility, snatching a career-high nine rebounds and tying her season high with seven assists. She now has 400 assists in her career, moving her to fourth place in the school record books, where she is primed to pass in career assists her coach, Rademacher, who has 429.
Against Eastern Michigan, Jones had a season-high 18 points, connecting on 11-of-12 from the free throw line, but it was her defense against EMU’s senior Tavelyn James, who came into the game ranked second in the nation in scoring at 25.1 points, but was held to nine points.
“Jalesa’s scoring is down, but she is our best defensive player,” Rademacher said. “She stuck like glue to James and she had to run the offense. As far as her scoring, we have been recruiting better players and her role has evolved to the needs of the team.”
Added Jones: “This is my senior year and we have lost a lot of very close games, so I took it on my shoulders. We talked about it and I was willing to do whatever I could help this team win games.”
As Jones had settled into her do everything role, her fellow Doughgirl, Shearer, has found her stroke. Versus the WMU, she recorded a career high 24 points, implementing her third-straight game reaching the 20-point milestone. Against EMU she launched four 3-pointers and tossed in 23 points for the second straight game.
We had an injury to our starting guard,” Rademacher explained, “so I gave Senee the spot, and, how she has grown into the position is unbelievable.”
Added Shearer: “I was making too many mistakes in practice, but since I’ve been in the lineup, I worked very hard to be a better player and teammate. With Jalesa running the offense, she has helped me feel comfortable, and as a result the ball has been falling for me. I’m very confident right now.”
Both Pershing ladies said the PSL has prepared them well for the challenges they are now face at the college level.
“When you think of the PSL, you think of tough,” Jones said. “Coming from Pershing, I’ve been here four years and I’m so thankful. My family and friends have been at every game. I just hope we can make this final season very special.”
To which Shearer added: “The PSL got me ready for this challenge. We focused on defense at Pershing, so I was ready to put that effort in for my coaches and teammates.
A smoking hot Detroit on Thursday will face Butler. Followed by Valparaiso on New Year’s Eve. Come on down and show some love to Doughgirls Jalesa Jones and Senee Shearer.
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