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Photo courtesy of LBCC coach Dominic Freeman.
The LBCC women’s basketball team has built a track record of success in recent years—but first-year head coach Dominic Freeman wants to raise the bar even higher.
Freeman inherits a team that’s won three consecutive conference championships while going on a recent run into the Elite Eight last season. As an LBCC alum, he brings over 15 years of coaching experience while winning numerous coaching awards, and he’s keeping the expectations high for his Vikings for the 2024-25 season.
“I’m super excited about being back, it’s a privilege and an honor” he said. “We really want to elevate this program and hopefully get our first championship. Every year we’ve been near the top and now it’s just about taking it to the next level. We want to continue to change the culture and build on the last couple of years.”
The Vikings return two key starters including Brillana Boyd who was named last year’s South Coast Conference South Player of the Year. Boyd also earned a 2nd Team All-State selection from her freshman campaign where she averaged 17 points and seven rebounds per game.
“She had a great season last year and she’s very versatile,” Freeman said of Boyd. “She can play inside or outside, she can shoot the three ball, and she can get to the rim. She’s willing to play one through five and there’s no secret why she’s one of our most recruited players on our team. With her size and height and an ability to be strong in the paint, she’s also a tremendous outside shooter.”
Alongside Boyd is fellow returner and point guard Kimberly Cruz, and Freeman says the pair compliment each other when they’re court together. Cruz averaged 11 points, six assists, and four rebounds per game last year.
“Those two go hand and hand,” he said of Boyd and Cruz. “With Cruz, she’s probably one of the best point guards I’ve been around. Great facilitator, she can get the rim and create for herself. If one of those girls are out it makes things difficult but with both of those girls on the court it’s like a Steph and Klay situation.”
Joining Cruz in the backcourt will be Millikan alum and second-year China Duncan, while St. Anthony alum Alahine Tunu will also bring in some experience at one of the Vikings forward spots. Freeman says that he plans to rely on his four returning starters and their experience as the Vikings hope to recreate another playoff run and another successful season.
“We have to lean on our returners who were here last year. You know, pick their brains and ask them what they like and what they want to improve on. They have experience and obviously they’re hungry to get back to (where they were last year), but that comes with a bigger target on their back. I told them that they found success last year but we’re gonna have to work ten times harder because that means they’re gonna come after us ten times harder.”
The Vikings will have a couple first-year’s in at the final forward position with Reniya Walker and Taylah Paepule both set to get in the mix.
“We harp on being great on the controllables. We want to be great at defense, that’s the big controllable thing. Obviously we have girls that can put the ball in the basket so if we can handle being assertive and dictating the game because you can’t control how well you shoot it every night. But you can control your energy and effort. They’ve been doing a really good job on that end. We just want to celebrate the wins and learn from the losses.”
The Vikings will tip off on Friday Nov. 1 against San Diego City College in the Mt. SAC Tournament.
