People tell Andrea Rodgerson that she should just go to the Windham High School gym to fill her roster. After all, it seems that female basketball players from the school find her eventually.

Rodgerson is the coach of the women’s basketball team at Southern Maine Community College. This season, with four former Eagles playing for the Seawolves, the team compiled a 17-5 record and won the Maine Small College Conference Tournament.

“We’ve played so long together and we work well together,” says Kristi Morrell. “That helps.”

Morrell is the team’s starting point guard. A sophomore like the other players from Windham, she was part of the SMCC squad last season until an ankle injury sidelined her for the year. Still, she had a good experience playing for Rodgerson and came back this season.

Alyssa Stiles played for the first part of last season, but basketball “just wasn’t a priority at that point.” She and Morrell both returned this year, and they helped convince Amy Greene, who transferred in from USM, and Kathryn Millett to play.

“I told Kristi that I was coming,” says Greene, “and she immediately asked if I wanted to play basketball.”

Stiles regained interest in playing in the fall. She cut back on hours at work to make the time she needed.

“I talked to coach and decided to come and play again,” she says. “It helps having girls I grew up with.”

With Lady Eagles filling four of the 10 roster spots, SMCC bounced back from last year’s 10-13 record. On Sunday the Seawolves beat Central Maine CC, 39-38, to win the state’s small college title.

The team will host a Yankee Small College Conference playoff game on Feb. 14.

Morrell, who was named to the all-tournament team, is a starter and runs the offense. Rodgerson says that she “has a good outside shot and she is a leader out on the court.”

Millett, an all-academic selection this year, “can run the point and she’s a good passer. She has good court awareness.”

Greene is a “very good outside shooter. When she’s on, she’s on.” Against UMaine-Augusta, Greene had 27 points, including seven three-pointers.

Stiles “has a good drive to the basket. She just needs some confidence, and hopefully we’re getting that for her.”

Together they bring to the team some of the spirit that they developed on the court at Windham High School.

“I thought two years ago would be my last time playing basketball,” says Greene, “and I’m happy that it’s not.”

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