Athlete of the week: Dante Hudson, girls basketball

From: The News Journal, DE - 21 Jan 2003

01/21/2003

Age: 16

Grade: Sophomore

School: Delaware School for the Deaf

Residence: Newark

Accomplishments: Scored 32 points last Friday in a 55-45 win over the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, a team that has reached the Division II title game of the Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association 23 times in the last 24 years. It was the first time DSD defeated RISD since its program started in 1994. Also, last Thursday, Hudson had 26 points in a 52-15 win over Linden Hall (Pa.), scoring the 1,000th point of her career. She played for the varsity as an eighth-grader and is the second 1,000-point scorer in the school's girls basketball history. The other is teammate Melinda McDowell.

Getting a big win: The Blue Hawks trailed Rhode Island 21-20 at halftime before Hudson led them to victory. "They had beat us for many years, so we're really proud of that win," signed the 5-foot-8 Hudson, who is shooting 46.8 percent from the field this year. "She can hit 3-pointers. Once she finds her rhythm she will just start putting them in," coach Sharon Graney said. "But she can shoot from anywhere on the court - the pull-up jumper or drive to the basket, taking the ball all the way. When she gets the ball up in close, it's really hard to stop her. When she has her mind set on the basket, she will twist and turn and fake and get in there."

The Hudson file: Her favorite players are 76ers standout Allen Iverson and former WNBA star Cynthia Cooper ... Has a progressive hearing loss and did not attend the school until eighth grade. "I like it better [at DSD]. I can understand things better and before I couldn't follow everything," Hudson signed. The school has 60 students in grades 7-12. - Buddy Hurlock

Athlete of the week acknowledges an individual accomplishment for a Delaware high school athlete during the past week. Submit nominations by calling 324-2807, faxing 324-2298 or at www.delawareonline.com.

Dante Hudson
The News Journal/JENNIFER CORBETT

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