By Christina Easter
This season, with seven freshmen and three returning players, Dion Griffin, head coach of the Cuyahoga Community College Women’s Basketball team, will look to play free and with a lot of pace and fun. The Lady Tops play in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference where they’ve won top honors over the last two seasons.
Dion, with assistant coaches Jasmine Frierson and Valencia Griffin, prepared for the season by entering the team in the Hoop Tech Summer League to build cohesiveness and the Tri-C culture. Now, the coaches are hoping that the dividends earned from the players’ hard play during the summer will compound and become the team’s identity.
“We got our butts kicked but there was a learning curve that paid dividends which you can see now in the way we play,” said D. Griffin. “We already look more seasoned and under composure and I think a lot of that came from the summer league which had pro players from overseas and former college players.”
Dion expects La’Nia Moore, Syair Young, and twin sisters Doriana and Summer Peterson to be standouts this season. He expects returning player Jayleena Bauzo to bring talent and experience. Bauzo was named to the OCCAC first team at the beginning of the season.
Young played for Stow-Monroe Falls High School in Stow, OH. She plays guard and will be looked to for shooting. “My goal is to get my shooting percentage up because when games are tight you need a shooter to put the ball in the basket,” Young said.
Rosalyn Evans plays multiple positions and wants the team to go 110% in every aspect. Tylia Parker’s goal is to become a starter and go to a four-year college.
Teavonna Clements graduated from Cleveland Central Catholic High School and her goal is to be mentally and physically strong and a better shooter.
Destiny Stokes graduated from Brush High School and she chose Tri-C because “it is a good college.”
Doriana and Summer played for the Canton South Wildcats. Doriana’s goal is to make herself better, be the best she can be and win everything. She chose Tri-C because it was the most affordable option. Summer chose Tri-C because of her sister.
The players are happy with their decision to play for Tri-C, thanks largely to Dion and the coaching staff.
“Coach is really strong and I feel like we’re a really good defensive team because of him,” said Bauzo.
“I love all of my coaches,” said Evans, adding “they are very hard and great on discipline.”
“I love all three of them,” said Summer.
“My coaches are amazing because they push me until I can’t do any more,” said Clements.
Dion and assistant coach Jasmine Frierson won 2022-2023 co-coach of the year honors after stepping up to lead the team to first place in the OCCAC. They followed this up by leading the Women’s Basketball team to the 2024 OCCAC Championship.
Valencia joined the coaching staff last year and assists with strengthening and the post players.
As the coaching staff continue to trust and depend on each other, they are relying on their returning players to play a similar role for the seven freshmen.
“We’re looking forward to our returning players teaching our freshmen what it’s like to be here and really work hard,” said Valencia.
Even with a team filled with freshmen, expectations are to win a championship.
“Ultimately we want to play in the last game of the season,” said Dion.
Dion’s goal for all his players is their health, learn the game of basketball, and hone in on their academics so they are prepared for a four year college.
The Women Tops play most of their home games at the Eastern Campus in Highland Hills, Ohio. Their regular season began November 1 and ends February 28.
