SMCC Cougars
Lady Cougars start 2011-12 recruiting class
SMCC Women's Basketball Coach Daven Vo has announced the signing of 4 Arizona high school student athletes.
Former Mountain Point HS star Nikki Villescaz headlines the group having fully healed from knee surgery. Villescaz will compete to lead the Lady Cougars at the point guard position this fall. “At 5’6, Nikki is a tough young lady that brings a lot of attitude and toughness to our team. She is crafty offensively and defends the ball very well,” said Coach Vo.
Allison Gordon, a 5’11 forward, averaged 10 points and an impressive 8 rebounds for Corona del Sol. Coach Vo says, “she can flat out shoot the ball but if she rebounds like she did at Corona, it will be tough to keep her off the court.”
Danielle Kooyman from Chandler HS and Alyssa Alonzo, a 5’6 guard by way of Globe HS, round out the list. Kooyman, a 6’0 forward, is a two sport student athlete that will also compete for the Lady Cougar volleyball team.
Game Time Change
The SMCC Lady Cougars will face Scottsdale Community College on Saturday at 6:00 pm instead of it's normal game time at 2:00. The men's game will precede the women's game with a 4:00 pm tip off time. Come support your Lady Cougars as they have most recently pulled off their biggest upset of the season against nationally ranked #7 Mesa Community College.
Again, game time will be at 6:00 pm.
Women's basketball is a time honored tradition that began in 1893. South Mountain Community College is proud to continue this legacy with the Cougars women's basketball team. Led by Daven Vo, the women's basketball team predicts ongoing victories this season.
Whether you're interested in joining us at one of our upcoming youth camps, or you want to participate in athletics during the school year, SMCC has a place for you!
Check below for updates on player news, game schedules and information on our youth camps.
Daven Vo takes over Women’s Basketball program (Jan. 2, 2011)
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Daven Vo, has been named the Head Coach of the Women’s Basketball program at South Mountain CC. Coach Vo will also remain as an assistant coach for the men’s team. Vo has been an assistant men’s basketball coach for five seasons at SMCC, along with spending the 2008-09 season as assistant coach at Grand Canyon University, under head coach Dan Nichols. Coach Vo has also served as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma. He is taking over the women’s program with the intentions of making a run into the Region 1 Division 2 playoffs.
2010 Women’s Basketball Camps
Team Camp $150.00
Monday June 14th & Tuesday June 15th
AM Session 8AM-12PM,
PM Session 1PM-4PM
Teams attend both sessions & organize own lunch between 12-1
Individual Camp $60.00
June 16th (Wednesday)
June 17th (Thursday)
June 18th (Friday)
Times:
8a-11a & 12p-4p all 3 days
bring own lunch on Wed & Thurs
campers attend all sessions
Click here for more information.
SMCC Inks Two Players
Dominique Hale
South Mountain Community College Coach Cassie Sawyer is proud to announce she has signed two players, Dominique Hale and Lia Kioa. Dominique Hale a versatile multi-sport athlete will compete for the Cougars in basketball and volleyball. Hale is a 6'0" athlete averaged 11.6 pts per game 8.8 rebounds on the basketball court for Kingman H.S. Coach Sawyer anticipates her athleticism and work ethic will be her greatest assets to the team. She is epitome of a student athlete; she gets her business taken care of on and off the floor. Cougar Volleyball Coach Pat Mooney states, "I think she's going to make a great addition to the team". He feels Dominique has tremendous upside and after preseason workouts thinks she'll progress into a formidable option for South in the middle. During a tryout Coach Mooney assed Dominique's skill set, offered her some suggestions and she was able to adjust within 2-3 reps. He remarked, "Coaches are always looking for athletes who are coachable as well as athletic, so I'm quite happy Coach Sawyer enlightened me about Dominique!"
Lia Kioa a 5'10 athletic and versatile 1-4 player comes to the Cougars via basketball power house Mesa Mountain View. She will give the SMCC an added edge in every facet of the game. Kioa is a hardnosed competitor who can dominate on both ends of the floor. Coach Sawyer says with excitement, "She will definitely help us in the rebounding department, put pressure on defenses with her ability to get to the rim and will help beef up our defense and athleticism." In her second season at Mountain View High School in 2010, Kioa ranked second on the team in scoring (8.4 ppg), second in blocked shots (13) and second in steals (36) for the Toros. Kioa was named the team's top defender during the '09 & '10 season. She also earned '09 & '10 Central Region First Team Honors and Central Region All-Defensive accolades. Kioa has played for the AAU Arizona Silver Streaks for the past 5 years. "During the past two AAU seasons she was named to the all-tournament team at the End of Oregon Trail Tournament in 2009, helped the Silver Streaks to a 2-1 record at the 2009 Boo Williams Invitational in Virginia while leading the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) and ranking second in rebounding (4.3 rpg), while shooting .571-percent from the floor (16-of-28). She tallied a game-high 18 points against the New York Heat in the final game of the tournament." (Via Silver Streaks Website)
SMCC Coach Sawyer continues to add depth and talent to her team as they prepare for the upcoming 2010-2011 season.
SMCC Women’s Basketball Player Signs Letter of Intent
Gianne “G” Fleming a 6’1” Guard on the Cougar Women’s Basketball team is taking her game to the next level. She has signed a Letter of Intent to play for Coach Yolanda Wells-Broughton and the Texas Southern Tigers. Texas Southern University is a Division I program in Houston, Texas and competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Fleming will join Wells-Broughton in her 3rd season as the Lady Tigers coach.
“G” Fleming was named to the NJCAA Pre-Season All-America team. As a freshman at South Mountain C.C. Fleming averaged 15.1 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists for the Cougars. Fleming was also named 2nd Team All Region 1 Division II in the ACCAC during the 2008-2009 campaign. She will be counted on this season to contribute to Coach Sawyer’s SMCC team as they push for an ACCAC Conference Title and a berth into the NJCAA National Championships. The skills and lessons learned this season will groom her for the tough competitive conference she will be playing in during the 2010-2011 seasons. Coach Sawyer and her coaching staff goal is to prepare each player to play beyond the JUCO level. In Coach Sawyer’s career she has sent 27 athletes on to a higher level, with 6 being named All-American. When all is said and done “G” Fleming will be her 28th prospect to play at the next level and if predictions come true her 7th All-American.
2009-10 Women's Basketball Signees
For previous stories, go to Sports News!