It definitely hasn't been a normal final three months for the senior trio of Tashanda Fleming, Jasmine Newman and Tyeshia Grant.
The three young ladies, all members of the J.Z. George basketball and softball teams, were supposed to be finishing up their athletic careers at the school and preparing for the prom and graduation exercises in just over a month.
However, things changed during spring break week for the girls, as well as the entire country and world, when the Coronavirus pandemic reared its ugly head. Instead of finishing up their final semester at the North Carrollton school, the three Lady Jaguars are trying to stay busy and healthy.
"Missing the prom was disappointing, but missing the graduation ceremonies will be the hardest," said Grant, who at 5-foot-1 played guard for Coach LeQuell Allen and outfield for coach Jamie Tucker on the fast-pitch softball team. "To put in all the hard work to reach this point, and for my family, this is going to be the hardest part of this. Our principal (Ms. Coretta Green) told us if all this clears up, even if it's June or July, she'd like to hold a ceremony for us."
Grant, who plans on attending Mississippi Delta Community College and enter the nursing program, has played on the basketball team the last three years, and has been a member of the softball and cheerleader squads since her ninth-grade year.
"Tyeshia was my vocal leader this past season. She was a player's coach on the floor for me," said Allen, who completed his first season at the helm of the Lady Jaguars.
Fleming has been a member of the All-Crossroads team the last two years, as well as making the all-district teams for J.Z. George the last two years. She finished her senior campaign by averaging 13.1 points and 5.8 rebounds a contest.
Fleming has been with the varsity team since her eighth-grade year, and played her sixth- and seventh-grade years on the junior high team. She was also a member of the softball team, playing in the outfield for Tucker.
One thing her, Grant and Newman all have in common is they have played for a different head coach in basketball each year they've been on the team. Fleming and Newman have had four different head coaches on the varsity team with Allen and Torrey Dale being the last two. Fleming also played for Demetrius Cobbins and Keneshia Henry, and also was on the junior high team when Heath Dudley was still at J.Z. George.
"It was pretty difficult each year playing for a different coach because each one had different things they wanted us to do," said Fleming. "It was something new we had to learn each year. We ran different plays on offense, and ran different defenses with each coach. It would have been nice to have one coach," said Fleming, who had a tough sophomore season after tearing ligaments in her right ankle during the summer.
"I had to wear a boot for a while, and even when we started working out when the season started, it took me some time to get going. The ankle was tender, and I wasn't moving as well at first."
Fleming said she has enjoyed being a part of the softball team.
"My family is very softball oriented. It was fun while it lasted," said Fleming, who added she may attend a trade school after graduating from J.Z. George. She's holding out hopes of a scholarship to still play basketball on the next level.
"Missing the graduation ceremony has been very emotional. There's nothing we can do about what has happened. It's all in God's hands," she added.
Newman is a 4-foot-11 point guard who played four years on the basketball and softball teams.
"Jasmine was my facilitator and leader by example," said Allen. "She is a very good student/athlete."
Newman, just as the other two girls, has dealt with several emotions about her final year.
"I've tried to stay busy, but missing the prom and possibly the graduation ceremony has been tough. It's sad. You can't go see your classmates, but I'm glad we're all safe. I've come to grips with what has happened," said Newman, who played shortstop on the softball team.
"Playing for so many different head coaches in basketball was a tough adjustment each year. Each coach had a different style, and we had to adjust to their way of doing things. I think we all learned a great deal from Coach Allen. The sophomores on this year's team really improved a lot from their freshmen season, and we all understood our role on the team," Newman said. "I didn't get to play much my junior year after I tore my ACL and meniscus in my right knee during my sophomore year. Coach Allen came to me and told me I'd be bringing the ball up the court and running the offense, so I got to work and got myself in shape."
Newman's future plans include attending Holmes Community College in Goodman and later Southern Mississippi to study architectural engineering.
"I'd love to be able to design ships, and bridges, and buildings. That's something that really interest me," Newman added.
