Watch Out For The RED!

  

WHY ARE THEY NOT SMILING?

 

I haven’t the slightest clue because not only have they made it to the Region 3 Final Four Championship back to back seasons, the nucleus of that team is back for not only this year but next as well, but guess who is smiling?

 

 

 

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Coach Mike Kramer for going on ten years. My older daughter played for him in high school and I have watched Bellaire turn into a powerhouse over the years. At first, many of the top players didn’t want to attend Bellaire, however after Carla Cortigo enrolled back in late 2003, everything has gone uphill for the program. When he first got the job 15 years ago, Bellaire was considered a laughing stock in Girl’s Basketball and fact of the matter, so was the district with the exception of Madison. Let’s see, over the last 5 seasons, Bellaire and Westside have made it to the Regional Finals twice, both going back to back.

 

 

Junior Bianca Winslow has been on both of Bellaire’s Regional Final teams and she has gone from being known as only a defensive specialist to a very good all around player. If the name Winslow sounds familiar, yes, that’s former Yates and Phi Slamma Jamma’s Ricky Winslow’s daughter.

 

 

 I see you pointing and yes, I am the man, but you are the “REAL DEAL”.

No other freshman has ever taken the city by storm like A.J. Alix. After the Cardinals lost 3 Division 1 ballplayers, almost everyone thought the birds were cooked. I thought otherwise and I said Bellaire would go as far as Alix would take them and this depended on how quickly she adjusted to varsity basketball. It didn’t take her long and she finished up with a bang scoring 32 points in the Elite 8 game and an amazing, get this, 40 in the Regional Final where they lost by 6 to Hightower.

 

 

 Okay, now that looks a lot better.

Sharpshooters Raven Burns and Regina Harris, both juniors,  along with sophomores Shandice Waugh, Brianne Jolivet and Carli Walton all return while move in junior Blake  Hemmitt and freshman Atallah Mckinney, call her Lulu will also help the Cardinals keep flying high.