Timid No Longer, Santa Ana’s Anthony Will Give It a Shot

Not only did Rochelle Anthony have to get used to a new position when she started playing basketball at Santa Ana College, she also had to get used to a new role.

She was no longer an undersized but quick post player who thrived on rebounds as she had been at Brea Olinda High.

Anthony has moved to the wing, where she has to deal with the expectation of being the team’s go-to player, thanks to her ability to make three-pointers.

The most difficult part of the transition was to overcome the mind-set of looking to pass, which Anthony developed while helping Brea win three Southern Section titles.

“I really had to get on her to shoot when she had a good look,� Santa Ana Coach Jack Single said. “I sure don’t have to do that anymore. But she also had to learn to be the No. 1 threat on a team. Now, we run our offense through her.�

Anthony, an aggressive sophomore who is as talented a shooter as there is in Southern California, is no longer shy about shooting.

She is averaging an Orange Empire Conference-best 21 points for Santa Ana (20-7 overall), which is in second place in the conference with a 9-1 record. The Dons are at first-place Irvine Valley (22-4, 10-0) at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“I always wanted to shoot the ball like that,� Anthony said, “but I wasn’t allowed to shoot outside in high school.�

She did have a three-point shot in high school, but she had to ask permission in advance to take it, and it only came during a blowout. But rebounds were her specialty at Brea, where she set the school’s single-season record as a senior.

“It miss being able to get all my rebounds,� Anthony said, “It’s tough [to play there]. You have to really want to play basketball. It makes you learn what dedication is, and hard work, too.�

But after Brea was eliminated from the Southern California playoffs by Laguna Hills in 1997, Anthony figured she was done with basketball.

She was ready to become just another college student and planned to attend Arizona State, where she had been accepted.

But all that changed after Anthony played in a couple of high school all-star games. No longer was she banished to the baseline. Instead, she was allowed to fly outside.

“I had a blast,� she said.

She decided to give the game another chance in college. Single said he expected to play Anthony outside all along because the Dons already had two post players.

The trick for Single was to convince Anthony she could play outside.

“Coach Single let me shoot,� Anthony said, “and that gave me the confidence I needed.�

Anthony’s shooting exploits are getting noticed by four-year schools. Single said Pepperdine and UC Irvine have asked about her and plan to watch her play.

Meanwhile, Anthony keeps moving toward the top of the Santa Ana record book. She has 495 points this season, which is 58 shy of the college’s record of 553 set by Demerial Gibson (1986-88).

Anthony has 882 points in her Santa Ana career, which has four conference games and at least one playoff game left. She needs 128 points to set the college’s career record.

“She’s given credibility to our program,� Single said.