Up close and personal with ECCC women's basketball

By Staff
Sammy Pace
Head Coach
16th season
Pace's 16th season has been a sweet one indeed as the Lady Warriors embark on their second trip to the juco nationals. The 1994 squad placed seventh under Pace's direction.
During Pace's 16 seasons, the Lady Warriors are 257-155.
He was chosen Outstanding Region 23 Women's Basketball Coach and MACJC state Women's Basketball Coach of the Year in 1994.
When practicing and planning ways to keep ahead of the likes of Copiah-Lincoln, Jones, Gulf Coast, and Pearl River aren't keeping him busy, Pace is also the athletic director at ECCC and serves as a part-time instructor.
Before coming to ECCC, the Lake native had a high school record of 134-57 while coaching at Hickory, Scott Central, and Sebastopol. His 1979 Scott Central team won the Class BB state championship, beating South Pontotoc 51-49 in the finals. The Scott Central girls went on to reach the finals of the overall tournament where they lost 74-70 to Duck Hill in overtime.
Tiffany Chancellor
Student Assistant
Freshman
Enterprise HS
At Enterprise, Chancellor was a manager for coach Tommy Perkins' Lady Bulldogs.
She plans to return to ECCC next fall for her sophomore year.
Her longest trip was from Enterprise to Orlando, Fla., to see Walt Disney World.
LeAnn Pittman
Student Trainer
Sophomore
Heidelberg Academy
Pittman was a manager for the late William Housley's girls' team and Mickey Taylor's boys' team at Heidelberg Academy.
At HA, she received one of the first two Terry Ober All-Sport Awards, named for a former Rebel supporter who passed away.
Pittman plans to attend the University of West Alabama next fall and apply for the athletic training program.
Her longest trip was from Pachuta to Tampa, Fla.
Joey McLeod
Trainer
Fifth year
An athletic trainer with the Rush Sports Medicine team, McLeod is in his fifth season at East Central.
In addition to tending to the Warrior and Lady Warrior athletes, the Pascagoula native also provides assistance for area high school athletes.
McLeod is a graduate of the University of Alabama where he worked as a student trainer for four years. He is certified on both the state and national levels.
He also worked five summers with the New Orleans Saints.
Jennifer Pace
Statistician
Freshman
Newton County HS
Pace is the daughter of ECCC Lady Warriors coach Sammy Pace and his wife, Virginia.
She graduated from Newton County High School and is currently enrolled in nursing school at ECCC.
Her longest trip was to Washington, D.C.
Danyell Hudson
Freshman
Student Assistant
Noxapater High School
Hudson played for coach Jason Gentry at Noxapater.
At Noxapater, she won the Class 1A state championship in the shot put which was her biggest athletic highlight prior to the Lady Warriors taking the Region 23 Tournament.
She plans to graduate from ECCC next year.
This is by far Hudson's longest trek from Winston County as she says her previous long journey was a trip to Biloxi.
Brittany Boney
Student Assistant
Sophomore
Heidelberg Academy
Boney played for the late William Housley at Heidelberg Academy where she was all-district for two years.
As a senior, she was team MVP and Best Offensive Player.
Boney plans to attend Mississippi State University next year to pursue her studies in veterinary medicine. Her longest trip was to Michigan.
Brad Hodge
Assistant Coach
Second season
A native of Russellville, Ala., Hodge is an assistant coach for both the Lady Warriors and Warriors. Prior to coming to ECCC, Hodge was an assistant men's basketball coach at Northeast Louisiana University from 1997-99.
He previously held the same position at Athens State College in Alabama and helped lead ASC to 38 wins in his two seasons.
Hodge started his coaching as a volunteer assistant at Geraldine (Ala.) High School. During his tenure, Geraldine advanced to the state Sweet Sixteen in going 22-8.
Adrea Smith
Sophomore
Filmer
Newton HS
Adrea is one half of Twin Productions, the film crew for the Lady Warriors and Warriors.
The other half is her twin sister Andrea. Andrea, however, was unable to make the trip to Kansas.
As a junior, Adrea was a good part of Newton's outside game as the Lady Tigers reached the Class 2A State Tournament where they lost 62-41 to Bruce in the championship game.
Adrea was named All-Division 7-2A.
She plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi next fall. Andrea was a manager that year for coach Arthur McMillan's team. Adrea's longest trip was to Michigan.