By Lee Davis
If Homewood girls’ basketball coach JoVanka Ward was organizing a carpool, she’d be in big trouble.
That’s because the vast majority of her Lady Patriots are too young to drive.
The good news is that they are all really good basketball players.
“Yes, we are a little on the young side, and I have to keep reminding myself of that,” Ward said. “Sometimes younger girls don’t react to things the same way more experienced kids do. But it’s my job as their coach to help them grow and mature as young ladies and as players.”
When Ward says her team is young, she isn’t kidding. No less than nine of the 13 players on Homewood’s roster are freshmen. In the Lady Patriots’ 66-26 rout of Class 6A Area 9 opponent Briarwood last week, Ward had four freshmen and a sophomore in her starting lineup.
Whatever Homewood is doing, it’s working. The Lady Patriots were 21-3 at the end of last week and enjoyed the No. 1 ranking in the most recent Class 6A polls.
“The No. 1 ranking has really meant a lot to the school, and we are grateful for the support we’ve gotten from the community,” Ward said. “Our girls have handled it well. They were excited at first, but they’ve also been humbled.
“Being ranked No. 1 is a big responsibility. Every team we face is going to be playing its best against us. It’s as if we have a big target on our backs every night. I don’t think our younger girls understood that at first, but they do now.”
The Lady Patriots play an aggressive, pressing defense that tries to force turnovers. Offensively, they love to run and gun, as reflected by their 62 points per game average.
“Pressing on defense and moving the ball rapidly down the court gives us the opportunity to have a lot of possessions,” Ward said. “And we think we have enough depth to wear a lot of our opponents down. Doing that can make it a good situation for us.”
Homewood’s inside game is led by sophomore forward Shelby Hardy, who averages seven points and seven rebounds per contest. The Lady Patriots’ overall scoring is remarkably balanced. Ajia Wayne, a freshman forward, averages 13 points a game, while Hannah Barber, a freshman guard, scores about 12 points a game.
Tori Webb, yet another freshman, and Maya Cook, a senior, each average about six points a game. Webb also grabs six rebounds per contest.
A good example of Homewood’s balance came in its recent win over Briarwood as Wayne, Barber and Hardy each scored 10 points. Senior Jaylon Underwood chipped in nine.
“We believe that balanced scoring keeps the opposing defenses guessing,” Ward said. “They can’t key on one or two players.”
Ward has so much confidence in her team that she has no qualms changing starting lineups.
“I don’t want anyone to be too comfortable,” she said. “Whether they are starters, first-off-the-bench substitutes or role players, nobody should be complacent. I want the starters to understand that they have to keep earning their positions, and the other players are expected to work hard with the goal of becoming starters one day.”
Other contributors include senior Alex Studdard and freshmen Lia Roberson, Sakeria Hollis, Kayla Mikula, Kalia Cunningham, Kassidy Crawford and Yamiah Hill. There are no juniors on Homewood’s roster.
“This is a fun group to coach,” Ward said. “They are a bunch of good kids. Just like all youngsters, they are a little unpredictable. We are so young that maybe the girls don’t realize how good they can be if they continue to work hard.”
The Lady Patriots are joined by John Carroll Catholic and Pelham along with Briarwood in Area 9 and will be heavily favored to win their league tournament. Ward understands that greater challenges may well be ahead.
“We are taking things one game at a time and trying to improve every time we play,” the coach said. “But at the same time, we know that everyone takes their game to the next level in the post-season. If we can stay grounded and humble, we will be okay.
“That No. 1 ranking means a lot to us. It’s been a great run, and we can’t expect to stay No. 1 by coasting along.”
Few of the Lady Patriots may have driver’s licenses, but if the girls keep winning, they won’t have any trouble finding rides to the Final Four.
