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All In The Family

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Markida, left, and Jamee Hawthorne have brought a renewed excitment and energy to the Avon Park Red Devil girls basketball team this season.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: December 4, 2007

AVON PARK –– It's a family affair when Jamee and Markida Hawthorne step on the court for the Avon Park Red Devils girls basketball team.

A chemistry can be seen when a laser pass from Markida finds Jamee cutting to the basket for the score –– a family bond that is bonding the Red Devils this season.

Junior shooting guard Jamee and Markida, a freshman point guard, are cousins that have become an exciting combination to watch this season.

"Those girls have really added another dimension to this team," AP head coach Paulette Daley said. "They work so well together on the court when they're on the floor together. They're both so unselfish and have really given us a spark early on."

Jamee has become known as the defensive stopper for the Red Devils and usually has the job of guarding the opposing team's best player night in and night out. That responsibility is one that Daley feels Jamee can handle.

"Jamee is our stallion on the team," Daley said. "We call her 'Pistol Pete' because she is fearless and a
great leader on the floor. She has such boundless energy and she is finally confident in her shot.

"Pound for pound, she is our best defender. She works so hard to improve her defense and I think she'll be even better by season's end ."

When talking about her game, Jamee beams with pride when the subject of defense comes up, but she also is cognizant of what she needs to work on to become a better all-around player.

"I am still learning to keep my emotions in check during a game," Jamee said. "The one thing I want people to remember about me before my playing days are over is that she was a great defender and never gave up."

Those same attributes are instilled in cousin Markida, who, in her first year on varsity, has injected Avon Park with new life by dazzling the fans with her passing skills.

"Her [Markida] court vision sometimes amazes me," Daley said. "Lately, the team hasn't been ready for some of the passes that she's made, but I told her to keep making those passes. The other players will have to be on their guard."

Those players are finally getting a feel for Markida's game. In a recent contest, Markida connected with Daija Barrett with a no-look pass in the paint for an easy score that left the opposing team scratching their heads.

"I just play the game the way I feel it," Markida said. "I was always taught to get the ball to the open player. I'm just happy to be playing varsity and I want to contribute anyway I can to help our team win.

Daley loves the advantage of bringing the freshman off the bench, a decision that has some fans wondering why.

"Markida was born a gym rat and learned her game playing street ball against the guys," Daley said. "People have been shocked that she isn't a starter, but they don't seem to realize that I like having that spark off the bench. I'm not losing anything talent-wise when she comes into the game.

"She has such an extensive basketball IQ and read defenses so well. I want that kind of talent directing my second unit."

As the season nears the halfway point, the Hawthorne cousins have brought an energy and excitement to the Red Devil squad that was sorely needed. The question that only the future can answer is how far can they take Avon Park.

To be continued.

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