MARION — Geneika Brantley is a little hesitant to talk about her own accomplishments.
The junior averaged 17.1 points, 12 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.5 steals per game as her Marion Swamp Foxes rolled to the Class 2A girls basketball state championship, yet none of those things really matter to her.
The one thing that does drive her is the quest for back-to-back titles. And for the 2009-10 season, Brantley has been named the Morning News Preseason Player of the Year.
“I made a promise to coach (Leon) Sturkey that we would make it to the state championship game, and we did it,” Brantley said. “(Winning the state title) felt good. It was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
“It was a blessing to stand on the floor (of the Colonial Life Center in Columbia) holding up that state title.”
In his first five years as Marion coach, Sturkey has overseen the transition to Class 2A and built a winner — with Brantley as a major piece.
Sturkey has nothing but respect and praise for his center, saying she has continued to improve every year she has been in the program.
“The best thing about her is that she’s coachable,” Sturkey said of Brantley. “A lot of players when they get this kind of recognition don’t want to work as hard or as much, but Geneika’s not like that.
“She has taken a leadership role on this team, and is one of our captains.”
Brantley said she is ready to take on the role of team captain, and is happy her coach has such faith in her.
“I have to set my mind on being a leader and motivating my teammates,” she said. “With their help, I am at my best.”
Brantley continued her success is predicated on how her teammates play. Without them, she is nothing.
“In order for me to play my best, I have to have my teammates,” she said. “If they’re not making good passes, I don’t have a chance to score and they don’t have a chance to score.”
Brantley’s already pushing toward several career milestones — and she still has two seasons to go.
“Geneika has started since the eighth grade, and she’s close to, if not right at, 1,000 points and 600 rebounds for her career,” Sturkey said. “To be able to have her, along with forward Candace Wright, is
a huge plus to have coming into the season.”
Nevertheless, all Brantley truly cares about is returning to Columbia and holding the state trophy once again.
“Our No. 1 motive is to go back. We plan on playing even more as a team than we did last year,” she said. “We hustled up and down the court on every play last year, and we plan on doing that this year.”
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