Thursday, Mar. 12, 2009

Vikings victorious: Q&A with coach Long

Spring Valley’s girls basketball team won the Class 4A championship with a 53-22 victory against Orangeburg-Wilkinson on Friday at Colonial Life Arena. It was the school’s first girls basketball title since 1978. The Vikings were ranked third in the preseason, despite coming off an 11-14 record in 2007-08. But with a new coach, a new attitude and a frenzied fan following, the Vikings surpassed expectations. Coach Anne Long talked to The State’s Gerald Davis about the season.

NOW THAT YOU’VE HAD TIME TO REFLECT, DID YOU THINK ABOUT HOW FAR THIS TEAM HAS COME?

“We were rated pretty high at the beginning of the season and I was leery because I didn’t want that kind of a target too soon. It was up in the air, really. We didn’t look as well as I wanted us to early. But then we started to improve. Our guards started to play well, our post players and we wanted to plug away at it. Once we started playing better, about midway through the season, I started thinking we needed to put the foot down and think championship. After the Dorman game (Upper State final), I was on a mission then.”

DID YOU EXPECT THIS TYPE OF FINISH?

“We set some goals, realistic goals, before the season. We wanted to have a winning season, win the region championship and we wanted to win the Taco Bell championship because they had some really good teams at that tournament (held at Keenan). Then we wanted to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Since the Spring Valley girls hadn’t done anything like that in a long time, we wanted them to respect that fact while remaining humble and be appreciative.”

THE ROLES OF YOUR SENIORS CHANGED WHEN YOU CAME ON THIS YEAR. HOW DID THEY RESPOND?

“I’m really proud of them. We started off with six seniors and ended up with four and those four, it was tough on them. But I always have to say something about Elikia Spann. She said ‘I know I have a role on this team, but if ya’ll get championship rings, I’m going to get one to.’ We had individual meetings with players at the beginning of the season. It was a good meeting and I said the choice is yours. You’re going to have to earn playing time. If you want to hang in there, it is going to be tough and there’s a possibility you are going to have to compete for that playing time. The four decided to go along for the ride and they have been big for us. I’m just really proud of them and proud that they were able to be a part of that championship.”

YOU WERE ABLE TO PLAY EVERYBODY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. HOW SPECIAL WAS THAT?

“I think it just goes to show what type of chemistry we had this year and how everybody came together and played their role and contributed. I think it was huge that everybody understood their role and because of that, they deserved it.”

YOUR FANS, THE ZOO CREW, HAVE STARTED SOMETHING AT SPRING VALLEY. THEY STOOD OUT AT THE WEEKEND OF CHAMPIONS. HOW SPECIAL WERE THEY?

“I watched some of the other games (at the championships) too. I wish that (fan following) could be a trend now. You could see they had a fantastic time. We started with 20 in the Zoo Crew and ended up with about 200. I think it helps that we have a second-grade teacher (Doretha Garland) as a long-time coach. People that had not come out for girls basketball games in a long time, were coming. We were just very very appreciatitive. They were a sixth person out there for us.

YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVING A TARGET ON YOU BEFORE THIS SEASON. IT REALLY GETS TOUGH NOW THAT THEY’VE WON THE TITLE... .

“But it’s a good life lesson for the kids. You have to stay on your toes and keep after it or the next person will take it away from you. You can’t let your guard down. You’ve got to work to stay on top. It’s a competitive world out there.”

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