She Is Out to Make a Name for Herself : Community colleges: Harbor’s JoAnne Williams has grown tired of being mistaken for a former Seahawk player.

JoAnne Williams was first asked the question by her Spanish teacher at Harbor College.

“Are you Bridgete Williams’ sister?�

Bridgete scored a community college state-record 72 points for Harbor in a Feb. 10 game against Long Beach City College.

Although JoAnne is not related to Bridgete, it’s easy to confuse the players.

JoAnne has replaced Bridgete, who got a scholarship to play at Northwestern State University in Louisiana. Both play shooting guard, with the emphasis on shooting. JoAnne is averaging 19 points a game in helping the Seahawks to a 9-2 record.

But JoAnne, a 20-year-old sophomore, has grown tired of the question.

“It bugs me a lot,� she said. “I’m a whole different person. I’m JoAnne Williams and I have my own goals.�

Although she admires Bridgete’s accomplishments as a player and considers her a friend, the sister thing is getting old. One teacher didn’t even bother asking if they were related.

“In our English class the teacher called out Bridgete Williams,� said Harbor point guard LaTasha Burnett, Williams’ best friend on the team. “JoAnne just screamed, ‘No!’ That really gets on her nerves sometimes.�

Even Harbor Coach Louie Nelson teases Williams by calling her “Little Bridgete.� But Nelson said they are different players.

“JoAnne is not as selfish as Bridgete,� Nelson said. “She is actually a true point guard, so even though she’s playing (shooting guard), she likes to pass a lot.�

After earning All-Southern California Athletic Conference honors as a freshman at Harbor in 1991-92, Williams moved to Portland with her older sister in an effort to escape family problems.

“I just had to get away from L.A.,� Williams said. “There was too much pressure with everything that was going on in my life and I needed to get myself a rest. I really needed change.�

She attended Portland Community College but didn’t play basketball. When she returned to California, the 5-foot-6 Williams was 30 pounds heavier.

Nelson was not encouraging when Williams asked about trying out for the team.

“I said, ‘You’re too fat! You can’t play at that weight. You’ve got to get in shape,’ � Nelson said.

Discouraged, Williams decided to give up her basketball career. Then Burnett, who was her teammate at Lynwood High, pulled her aside.

“She was fat and slow and she didn’t want to do anything,� Burnett said. “But I told her, ‘You’re going to get out here and play some ball.’ We made a pact that we’d play together and I reminded her of that.�

With Burnett by her side, Williams started a diet and conditioning program that often included up to six hours of full-court basketball. She also did a lot of running on a track and in the sand.

“She still has to lose five to 10 pounds,� Nelson said. “She’s about 65% right now, but she’s our best three-point shooter. A lot of Division II schools are interested in her, but I think she can play at any local Division I school like Long Beach or Pepperdine.�

Dominguez Hills Coach Van Girard is interested in Williams, but believes she will ultimately play at a Division I college.

“I really remember her being tremendously athletic,� said Girard, who coached the Lynwood girls’ team before Williams played on the varsity. “She has a great range on her jump shots and she’s a pretty tenacious defender.�

Williams says her goals are to earn a scholarship and make her father proud. Joe Williams raised his four daughters alone. JoAnne, the third-oldest, considers Joe to be her best friend and confidant.

JoAnne had minimal contact with her mother growing up and last saw her when she was 12. So Joe, a maintenance worker at Compton College, did everything for his girls.

“My dad is the greatest,� Williams said. “I remember my friends talking about their mother and I always said, ‘My father took me shopping and he picked this outfit out for me.’ They would say, ‘Your dad picked that out for you?’

“I’d say, ‘Yeah, my daddy buys clothes for us, he grocery shops, cleans, cooks and works. He also comes to all my basketball games.’ �

Although JoAnne did not start at Lynwood, she played a lot at point guard. She also competed in volleyball and softball, but planned to give up sports in college to concentrate on academics.

“My high school coach knew Nelson, but even after I talked to him I thought, ‘No more sports,’ � Williams said. “Then I talked to my dad and he said, ‘Give it a try. You never know.’ He’s always given me great advice.�