Virginia Peninsula Community College is fielding a women’s basketball team for the first time since the 2023-24 academic year. The 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons were either canceled or hampered by the pandemic. That recent history is presenting numerous challenges for first-year coach Eugene Baker.
“We want to erase the errors of the past seven to 10 years,” he said. “We want to erase those demons while still honoring the women (who) did come before us. That’s our major challenge.”
The good news, Baker said, is some older area high school coaches remember when the Gators had a robust women’s program. In fact, the College has sponsored the sport since 1982 and has won two VCCS titles.
“So, every positive practice we have gets us a little closer to that,” he said.
He expects to have 10 players and said versatility should be one of their strengths.
“You never know where a player will play. We have several players that can play one through five, and several players who actually will play one through five,” Baker said.
His responsibility is to put those players in the best position every night. One of his goals is to make sure the opponent doesn’t know who the leading scorer will be.
“We want everybody to have opportunities. We want everybody to make their contribution,” he said.
Freshman Jordein Holder, a standout on the volleyball team who will be the first NJCAA two-sport athlete for the Gators, is expected to be one of the key players.
“Jordein is a borderline D1 talent,” Baker said of the former Menchville standout.
He said it might take her a little while to get into “basketball” shape.
“On the athletic side, volleyball and basketball are kind of parallel. It’s just not as much running,” he said.
Her experience playing both in high school should help, Baker said.
“She’s been doing it a long time,” he said. “I think that she can get there rather quickly. I know she hasn’t done it on a collegiate level, but again, she bounced back and forth between volleyball and basketball in her high school days.”
The volleyball season just ended, and Holder had spent a little time in the gym with the basketball team, so Baker expects a seamless transition. He said her biggest adjustment might come off the court.
“When you just play one sport, once your sport is over with, you can focus on your academic side,” he said.
On the court, Baker noted, she has a high IQ and is a natural leader.
“She’s a connector, a big communicator,” he said. “We call it an echoer. She’s always echoing what the coaches are trying to communicate to the players.”
She comes from a great high school program, which draws the attention of her teammates.
“A lot of the girls look up to and respect her in that nature,” Baker said. “She’s friendly so people gravitate toward her.”
She moves her feet well, anticipates what’s going to happen and is a quick jumper.
“And she’s got a nice vertical leap. That translates directly to basketball,” Baker said. “She definitely makes us better defensively, helps us on the rebounding. And then as a basketball IQ, she can just make plays.”
The Gators open the season at Bryant & Stratton on Nov. 7. After three more road games, they have their home-opener against Chesapeake College on Nov. 20 at SafeHaven Empowerment Center at 6 p.m.
“Every day will present us with challenges, which we accept,” Baker said, adding the opposing team isn’t the only challenge. “We have to deal with the internal challenges that each player and the team as a whole has. That’s really our biggest challenge.”
Bryant & Stratton is going to be a tough game, as will The Apprentice School.
“We’re not too far away (from the start of the season). I’m excited,” he said.
His players are settling into roles and trying to come together as a team. They are starting to trust and believe in the coaching staff and the program.
“We do like what we see out there. The pieces really do fit well together, and the girls are taking tremendous steps in the buy-in,” he said.
With all first-year college players, they are learning as they go. But it’s time to start the season.
“They’re tired of going against one another in scrimmages,” Baker said. “They’re ready to play a different team.”
