Former Spring Garden basketball standout Tara Mullinax recently decided to continue her basketball career at Berry College in Rome, Ga.
That time away made Mullinax realize how much she wanted to play again.
Last November, Mullinax attended the Shorter-Berry College women’s basketball game and talked to Berry coach Stephanie Dunn, who said she had Mullinax on her radar during her high school days.
“I told Coach (Dunn) I hadn’t picked up a basketball going on a year, and she was like ‘It shouldn’t take you long to get back in the swing of things,’” Mullinax said.
Following that encouraging conversation, Mullinax decided she wanted to attempt a return to the court. She said Berry assistant coach Marie Carbee gave her a copy of the Lady Vikings’ post-season workout schedule to help get her back in basketball shape.
Mullinax recently received an academic scholarship from Berry and is now a member of the Lady Viking basketball team.
“I’m really excited,” Mullinax said. “Everybody came back to campus this past Saturday, and we just started (practicing) on Sunday. We’ve been playing pick-up games. My teammates have welcomed me. The coaches have been great. It’s fun. I love it.”
As a 5-foot-11 senior forward at Spring Garden during the 2010-11 basketball season, Mullinax averaged 21.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals and an assist per game. As a junior in 2009-10, Mullinax posted 19.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and had an assist per game.
Dunn isn’t worried about Mullinax’s time away from the court. She said Mullinax is “our missing piece.”
“She’s a forward-type player, strong and athletic,” Dunn said. “She’s going to provide some muscle and aggressiveness. She brings a tremendous package to our team. She’s going to do what it takes to win. I think she’s going to do well.”
The Division III Lady Vikings open the 2012-13 season Nov. 16 against Howard Payne in the Zaxby’s Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament in Clinton, Miss.
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