BOOGIE GAINS EXPERIENCE WITH USA BASKETBALL TEAM THIS SUMMER

Via Michael Lambart (LSU Reveille):


The trophy room in LSU sophomore forward LaSondra Barrett’s Jackson, Miss., house is getting crowded.

Barrett won two-straight Class 5A state championships for William B. Murrah High School, and she was a McDonald’s and EA Sports All-American in 2008. The 6-foot-2-inch forward, nicknamed “Boogie,” made an instant impact for the LSU women’s basketball team her freshman season, finishing second on the team in scoring and claiming 2009 SEC Co-Freshman of the Year honors.

But the trophy room may need to be cleared for Barrett’s most prestigious award to date — a gold medal. Barrett made her mark internationally on USA Basketball Women’s U19 Team last summer, claiming the championship after beating Spain, 87-71, in Bangkok, Thailand.


“The experience was great,” Barrett said. “You are even more hungry to win since you are representing the United States. Winning a gold medal was the icing on the cake.”

The United States fell to Spain in its first game of the preliminary round but gained revenge in the title match.


“Spain beating us was a wake-up call,” Barrett said. “Our backs were against the wall. It was just about bouncing back and playing with our heart.”

The United States went on to beat China, Mali, Canada, Japan, Russia and France en route to the title.“Everyone wanted to beat the USA because we were the best,” Barrett said. “We peaked at about the right time.”

Barrett had a breakout game and scored her tournament-high 14 points to help the Unites States defeat Japan.

“I wasn’t much of a scorer — it was more defense and rebounding,” Barrett said. “Being a leader, being vocal — that was my role.”Barrett said she enjoyed the experience of playing for her country.

Read the entire article: http://bit.ly/405fqA

Posted by Bill Martin