After storming out to an 8-0 start last season, Durant’s girls basketball team was ultimately forced to miss their district tournament due to COVID-19 cases coupled with an insurmountable number of injuries that plagued the final stretch of their 14-7 regular season. With an unceremonious end to last year’s season, the Cougars picked back up right where they left off with four wins to kick off this year, including a pair of huge wins in a 67-7 contest against Strawberry Crest and a 93-11 contest against Brandon.
Durant’s strong start came largely on the back of their core group of four juniors, all totaling over 10 points per game through the four-game win streak. Most notably point guard Maggie Lauber who led the team with 22.3 points per game on 66 percent shooting from the field.
“Maggie is the heart of our team, she’s the leader,” head coach Constance Mitchell said. “She understands the game, she’s very coachable and we’re just glad to see her mature as she has over the years. She’s really matured, she’s leading the team and like I said, she understands the game. Her I.Q. has developed and we’re just happy to have her.”
Behind Lauber was Sophia Flair, averaging 15.8 points per game and a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game and 4.5 assists per game. Then Ki’Ajanae Gordon at 13.8 points per game and Miami Mejia at 12.3 points per game.
Durant headed to Valrico on Monday night where they put their undefeated record on the line against the 6-0 Bloomingdale Lady Bulls, falling 62-57 for their first loss of the season in a battle between two of East Hillsborough’s — previously — unbeaten.
After a back and forth first quarter that ended 14-13 in favor of the Lady Bulls, Durant found their stride in the second quarter. With two crucial three pointers from Gordon late in the half, Durant was able to take the lead and head into halftime with a 27-24 lead.
The beginning of the second half remained tight until Bloomingdale caught fire and began to pull away. Outscoring the Cougars 24-10 in the third quarter, Bloomingdale had built a 48-37 lead heading into the fourth.
Bloomingdale continued to control the pace and pulled out to a 14 point lead, their largest of the night, but Durant would battle back. The Cougars were able to string a few buckets together and stand tall on defense to narrow the gap when Gordon came up huge again. Two layups in transition on back-to-back possessions made it a 58-54 game with 28 seconds remaining. Then, following two converted free throws after an intentional foul, Gordon struck again with another huge three pointer to make it a one-score game at 60-57.
Gordon finished the game with a season-high 29 points while adding four assists.
Durant was forced to foul again but with Bloomingdale adding two more points from the stripe and just seconds left on the clock, the Cougars’ comeback attempt fell five points short of a 5-0 start to the year.
“They can go as far as they want to go,” assistant coach Al Mitchell said. “It’s a very good mix of girls, they play tough and they play team basketball. As long as they continue to play team basketball, rebound and play good, solid defense, we can almost do whatever we want to do. We’re looking to have a really sound year but I tell the girls, the record doesn’t matter because the season doesn’t even really start until the playoffs.”
The emphasis for this Durant team, as mentioned by Al Mitchell, is playing as a team, something that must ring true if they want to bounce back and continue their early run of success. But that team effort goes further than their performance on the court as they’re led by the married duo of head coach Constance Mitchell and Al Mitchell, her husband and assistant coach. According to the two, Constance Mitchell handles the logistics of the team while Al Mitchell handles the strategy.
“I provide the energy and the X’s and O’s,” Al Mitchell said. “[Constance Mitchell] is the logistics. She’s the heart and I’m kind of the brains, but she’s the heart that keeps us pumping.”
In a unique dynamic to leading the team, Al Mitchell explained how he and Constance Mitchell feel as though they personify the adage from the 2000 film Love & Basketball as their shared love for the game is not just something that they can enjoy together, but with the team that they lead. He added that what makes this group of girls so special is how close they are, how the team truly feels like a family and how important that bond will be for their success as the season wears on.
But despite leaving Bloomingdale with their first loss of the season, there is no time for this team to hang their heads. Durant returned to action on Wednesday against East Bay before taking on Freedom tonight and heading to Plant City High School on Friday for a local rivalry matchup.