Lady Trojans Looking to Build on 2022 Season Success

By Mark H. Stowers

The Lady Trojans of Mississippi Delta Community College made it to the postseason in 2022-23. With an overall record of 16-11 and 7-7 in MACCC North action, Head Coach Tangela Banks has a balanced roster and is looking to turn up the heat on defense. With eight sophomores and seven freshmen, Coach Banks has been working to create the 50/50 mix to keep improving her JUCO team. Having players only two years proves to be difficult on the JUCO level.

"I finally got it half and half," Coach Banks said of her roster. "I normally have a lot of freshmen and you have to teach them. But I'm still teaching."

Not settled on a starting lineup, Coach Banks will determine those five players based on the team matchup.

"I don't have a set five but (sophomore point guard) Tariyah (Washington) and (sophomore guard) Katelyn (Coleman) will start," she said. "The freshmen are coming along."

The key to an improved season will start with defense.

"Defense and transition – we focus a lot on defense and we look for defense to create offense," she said.

The MACCC will again be a tough league to compete in and the pre-season coach's rankings have Pearl River in first place with seven votes followed by Mississippi Gulf Coast with five votes. The rest of the MACCC ranking includes Itawamba at #3, Jones at #4, Northwest #5, Coahoma #6, East Central #7, Holmes #8, Copiah-Lincoln #10, Northeast #11, Southwest, Meridian and Mississippi Delta tied at #12 and Hinds coming in at #15.

"Pearl River and Gulf Coast are the strongest and the rest will match up about the same," Coach Banks. "I don't know until I see everybody play."

The Lady Trojans kick off the season on Wednesday, November 1 hosting Tougaloo College. Then they'll hit the road on Friday and Saturday to take part in the Lady Bears Classic playing Shorter College and Baton Rouge Community College. On Monday, they'll head to Hinds for a 5:30 p.m. matchup. They'll host Southwest Community College on Thursday, November 9 at 5:30 p.m. as well.