Opposite vantage points on the court

By Donna Styron| gargoyle@flagler.edu

The Flagler College women’s basketball team has two players who are complete opposites in stature but alike in their love for the game.

Sophomore Rachel Brown stands above the rest at 6 feet 7 inches, while freshman Ebonee Bell doesn’t let her size of 5 feet 2 inches bring her down. The two girls said they hardly notice their height differences compared to their opponents.

“I never noticed how short I was,” Bell said. Brown said, “I didn’t even notice how much taller I was until someone took a picture.”

As the tallest player on the team, Brown uses her height as an advantage. She recently broke the school’s record for the most blocks in a game with seven against Francis Marion.

“That was a great game for me,” Brown said. “I just stayed on the court.”

Brown expressed that she is very happy with her decision to come to Flagler. Though balancing school work and basketball can be overwhelming, she still manages. She said the team completes its schoolwork before and after practices.

“I can go to them for anything,” Brown said.

Bell keeps her head in the game with determination and quick feet. She describes herself as a “feisty” player.

“I will run over [opponents] if they get in my way,” she said.

The freshman may be the smallest player on the team but said she has a great teammate like Brown to help her out.

“If I get in a bind, I throw [the ball] high and Rachael is always there to catch it,” Bell said.

Bell’s decision to come to Flagler was made before even visiting the school. This season, she has been running the offense as the team’s point guard just a year out of high school.

St. Augustine is a long way from her home of Olathe, Kan. but Bell said this freshman year has been enjoyable.