Tasha West signs with Volunteer St.
Russellville’s Tasha West has thought about the day she would sign a scholarship to play collegiate basketball and when that day arrived Thursday, West was amazed by the moment.
“I’m excited,” West said. “I’ve dreamed about this, but I didn’t think it would be this big.”
West signed with Volunteer State, a member of the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association in Gallatin, Tenn.
West has been a major part of the Lady Golden Tigers emergence from an average-at-best program to an annual playoff contender.
“When I first got here people would show up at halftime our game to wait for the start of the boys game,” West said. “I’m glad to be leaving it bigger than when I came in.”
Volunteer State head coach Chris Harris said West is a versatile player who is gifted athletically.
“Exciting is the word. She is going to be a good player for us,” Harris said. “She plays hard, defends and does the little things to be successful. She is an unselfish player.”
West had a great junior season as she helped guide the Lady Golden Tigers to finals of the Northwest Regional Basketball Tournament and was selected for the North-South All-Star game. A knee injury last summer prevented West from participating in the All-Star game and limited the number of games she played in her senior season.
Russellville coach James Bostick said West played in about 15 games as a senior where she averaged 12 points and six rebounds.
Bostick knew for a while the type of player West would become. He began coaching her while she was playing youth league basketball in the fifth grade.
“This is a dream come true for her,” Bostick said. “It’s in her hands now. She is a good person and I’m just tickled for her.”
One thing West is most proud of during her career at Russellville is that she emerged as a team leader.
She is also proud of the way the team performed against Brewer during the 2010 Northwest Regional Tournament. Many viewed Russellville as the underdog heading into the game, but West said the squad bonded together and played as a tight-knitted team to knock off the Lady Patriots.
But West is not looking too much into the past because she is focused on her future at Volunteer State and beyond.
“The team and program is good for me,” West said. “It will help me get to the next level.”
