They come at things from a completely different perspective.
Edison senior guard Doreena Campbell always looks cool and composed, an attitude that rubs off on her teammates even in the most stressful situations. Senior forward Tamonica Brackins is far more vocal. She’ll offer a pat on the back after a bad play or speak sternly when someone needs to be more aggressive, always encouraging and cajoling a better effort from her teammates.
“That why we’re co-captains. We have the best of both worlds on this team,” said Brackins, who leads No. 1 Edison into a Group AAA state quarterfinal against Forest Park on Saturday night. “I think that’s why our team fits together so well. That [leadership] is one of our biggest strengths.”
Campbell (UCLA) is the star, a first-team all-state selection who averages 19.1 points per game. But the supporting cast is the state’s best, a group that includes the 5-foot-11 Brackins, a veteran backbone for an Eagles team seeking another shot at a state championship. She averages 7.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
“Tamonica brings so many different things to the table,” said Edison coach Dianne Lewis. “It’s not always about scoring. It’s about leadership. It’s about defense in the post, it’s about awareness on the court. She gives us all of that.”
Saturday’s opponent is fitting since Forest Park is the team that won last year’s title at Edison’s expense, a 57-56 state final thriller that came down to the final moments. The Eagles may again be without junior point guard Shawnee Lewis, who has missed three straight games with concussion symptoms and was to be examined by doctors again Thursday afternoon.
That would put super sub Chasity Clayton back in the starting lineup at power forward and move Brackins to the wing — not a huge adjustment for a player projected to play that position in college. Brackins has accepted a scholarship offer from Longwood.
“I’m usually in the post with [teammate Adria Crawford] so a lot of people don’t know I’m a little more versatile than that,” Brackins said. “It’s just like the rest of our team. We’ll play anywhere on the court as long as it helps us win.”
Group AAA girls state quarterfinal
» When: Saturday, 5 p.m.
» Where: Robinson
» Why: Rematch of last year’s state final. Forest Park (21-6) has won two of the last three state championships. Edison (28-1) is the two-time Northern Region champion. The Eagles last won a state championship in 1978.
