James leads Bravettes both on the court and in spirit

by Jake Baranek

She holds the school record for most points in a basketball game, with 36. She made First Team All-State basketball in 1996. This year she has led the Bravettes to a 5-3 start. Her play can be summed up in one word: tough. Who is this Cal Ripken of the court? The name’s James. Darcy James.

“She’s the toughest person I know,” said junior teammate Sahara Ondov. “She plays with all her heart.”

James, a senior, started playing basketball when she was five, and started her competitive basketball career when she was a second grader, playing for the YMCA.

“I love the competition,” said James of playing basketball. “I like being involved as a team and the feeling of winning as a team.”

During the Bravettes’ first five wins James has led the team in scoring, averaging 13.6 points per game — the only Bravette in double figures.

“She holds the team up emotionally,” said Ondov. “She’s an incredible athlete and she knows the game really well.”

On Thursday, James played in a game against Missoula Hellgate after press time. On the Hellgate team is a good friend of James’ who she looks forward to playing against: Alesha Buhl.

“She plays softball and I play softball,” said James. “We met (playing softball) when I was a sophomore.”

“When we really got to know each other was at Carroll College Hoop (days),” said Buhl. “I’m really looking forward to watching her play and talking to her for a while.”

The two friends share more than an affection for the games of basketball and softball; they also shared injuries requiring surgery last year. James suffered a separated shoulder and Buhl had a knee injury.

“We (Missoula) were playing Kalispell (in softball),” said Buhl. “She was sitting out and she came over. We talked about how hard it was to sit out.”

“Seeing her come back inspired me,” said James. “I thought if she could do it then maybe I could too.”

It’s this passion for competition that helps James fight through injuries.

“She’s been injured where she’s in tears and five minutes later she’s ready to go back in,” said head coach Dennis Latimer. “She’s just a total competitor.”

“I hate not hustling,” said James. “I hate it when people don’t play their hardest.”

James’ toughness in evident in her play. She plays every game with a heavily taped shoulder caused by last season’s injury. In the Sept. 24 game against Missoula Sentinel, James went out with a hyperextended knee, only to come back a few minutes later. Despite the efforts of James and the rest of the team, the Bravettes lost 66-59.

“I feel guilty if I don’t play my hardest,” said James. “In the Sentinel game I played hard so I didn’t feel too bad about loosing.”

Said Buhl:

“I’ve always kind of looked up to her. She’s one of the nicest people I know.”

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