By all accounts, the Choctaw girls basketball team is shaping up to be a formidable contender as the playoffs approach.
- Under the steady leadership of head coach Don Brown, the Lady Indians have built a reputation as perennial postseason threats — a legacy highlighted by four regional titles and two state runner-up finishes during Brown’s tenure.
This season, the Lady Indians’ current 11-10 record tells only part of the story. The team has faced one of Florida’s toughest schedules, with just four opponents holding losing records.
Despite setbacks against powerhouses like Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Booker T. Washington, Mosley, Gulfport, Pensacola and a recent upset by Crestview, Choctaw has notched impressive victories.
- Early in the season, they handed Niceville its first loss, and they’ve also bested playoff-bound Mosley and Pine Forest, as well as Alabama’s strong St. Paul’s Episcopal squad.
“It was a tough schedule. We’re 11-10 right now, and we’ve played some really good teams, some top-ranked teams. We’ve lost some games we should’ve won, but the better the competition you play, the better you will improve as a team,” Brown said.
He credits the team’s resilience and unity as their greatest strengths.
“Just staying together as a group. I feel like if we continue to stay together and work for the same goal, we’re going to accomplish some of the goals we want to achieve,” Brown said.
The Lady Indians’ roster is built for postseason success. Senior point guard Diaris Morales is a four-year varsity veteran who can run the offense, shoot, score and defend — providing the experience and versatility Choctaw needs. The front court features the “twin towers,” Janyia and Jayla Brown, both nightly double-double threats, and sixth player Leonna McKinnie, who brings a strong presence in the paint.
- “It’s going to play a big role, because we’re going to have to have that inside presence. I feel like we have some really good scorers, but our inside presence is going to have to be big for us,” Brown said.
Rounding out the lineup are scoring guard Olivia Alexandre and three-and-D specialist Sanayi Lindsey, giving Choctaw a balanced attack on both ends of the floor.
Brown is clear about the team’s focus as the playoffs near: “Defense. Rebounding. We’ve improved in some areas, but if we don’t defend or rebound the basketball, it’s going to be very difficult to win games.”
With a battle-tested roster and a coach who knows how to guide his team through adversity, the Choctaw Lady Indians look poised to make noise in the postseason once again.
