Girls: “Basketball Is Everything To Me”

The Olympic excitement about the women’s basketball and softball teams, women’s gymnastics, swimming and volleyball and, of course, track and field, is a measure of how far American women’s sports have come. Most observers give much of the credit to Title IX, the 1972 requirement of equal spending for boys’ and girls’ sports in federally supported institutions. Today, high-school girls can think seriously about basketball scholarships and even a pro career. MARY REESE BOYKIN talked with girls playing in a summer basketball league at USC, the “Say No” Classic, about their hopes and motivation.

KELLY SABEY: 16, senior, Palisades High School

I am working toward a college scholarship. In order to get better, I need to play against competitive players. The league players are more aggressive and they make me more aggressive. With this new [professional] women’s basketball league, everybody’s dream is to to to the pros. For now, my goal is to go to college and see where it goes from there.

Most of my friends live near Baldwin Hills and Dorsey High. There are not that many good girl basketball players in my area. My friends where I live, in Pacific Palisades, tell me to get a life because I play basketball and don’t hang out with them. Well, they are the ones who don’t have a life because all they do is hang out.

MELOLINI MALAKI: 16, senior, Palisades High School

When I was in sixth grade, my parents put a ball in my hands and said, “Dribble it.” I would say, “But I don’t want to play basketball.” They would say, “Dribble the ball.” They kept on doing that. By eighth grade, I liked the game.

Now basketball is more than a game; it’s a means of getting a scholarship for college. No scholarship, no other way to go to college.

I don’t have a social life because basketball is everything to me. A typical summer day? I wake up and call members of my Palisades team. We meet at Rancho Park [near Dorsey High School] and run a mile for conditioning. We play a little basketball. I go home and do my chores. Then I go back to the park, either to play or watch a pick-up game.

I am involved in the league to stay in shape and improve my skills. I am learning to play as a team member and to be open-minded on the court. That is, to see the whole court and not to hog the ball.

After college, I would like to go to Europe to play because I like to travel. Europe is a good place to start. I want to be a role model for younger girls by making good grades. I encourage every girl to play sports--any sport.

KRYSTAL McCAIN: 15, sophomore, Crenshaw High School

At Crenshaw there is more talent than at most other schools. In fact, there are not enough spots for everyone who wants to play. But we get good training because the coaches work individually with you until you get it right.

I play in the summer league to get to know other players, to show them what I am made of.

CANDICE FONDAL: 17, June graduate of Blair High School, Pasadena

Recently, people have gotten into girls’ basketball. The attendance is up. Players get respect. A lot of guys are into girls’ basketball. The game is losing that stigma of being tomboyish. Guys are seeing that girl players are not so manly after all.

The “Say No” league is a chance to showcase skills, develop friendships, play and have fun, but you still want to win.

A lot of girls look forward to getting a scholarship so they take the game seriously. They play hard, don’t goof around and it hurts when they lose. Playing basketball is different from hanging out with your friends because you get to do something you love together.

LATANYA TIBBS: 15, junior, Fairfax High School

When I was in fourth grade, the boys would never let me play with them. Back then, girls my age were not interested in playing basketball. One day, a teacher insisted that the boys let me play. A boy said, “She’s a girl. She’s a girl. She can’t handle it.” They were reluctant, but because the teacher told them to, they let me play basketball with them after school, at nutrition, at recess.

After they learned to accept me, they taught me the basics. I matured as a player. I played varsity in 9th grade because I had skills in ball-handling, boxing, post moves.

“Say No” is a great league: the coaches, the players, the USC atmosphere. We are taught to have high self-esteem, to be confident. We are also taught that a good attitude is second to good grades and qualifying SAT scores. We feel good knowing that we are doing something that males do, probably even better. Of course, we realize that while girls’ sports are getting more recognition than in the past, there is still not equal opportunity.

SUSIE MCKELLIP: 18, graduate of Moreno Valley High School

I hope that girls’ basketball keeps going up to a different level. More girls are getting better, playing more, reaching their potential. In high school, it seems that girls’ basketball is not taking a back seat. Everyone is excited about the new women’s basketball leagues. It’s great to know that we will be able to play in the pros without having to go to Europe.