By Emmalee Molay

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — If basketball was like driving through traffic, Trinity Episcopal girls coach Fay Minor said D’Asia Mitchell would be just like a green light.

“Most of the time I just sat back and watched her go,” Minor said.

And for Minor, Mitchell said she is like a traffic cop who guides the team in the right direction.

“She’s that type of coach if she likes what she sees, she’ll let you go,” Mitchell said. “If you mess up though, she lets you know that we will get it back the next play.”

For their efforts during the 2016-17 season, Mitchell was named the The Democrat’s All-Metro Girls Player of the Year and Minor the All-Metro Girls Coach of the Year.

“I’ve been working toward this since my freshman year. It’s great,” Mitchell said.

With the senior-coach duo leading the way, the Lady Saints reached the semifinals of the MAIS Class AA state championship. Their 17-12 record came after claiming the South State title and their third straight district title.

“When I first came to Trinity in 2010, the girls basketball program was pretty much non-existent,” Minor said. “Now we are a team to be reckoned with, and everybody knows our name. To be able to build the program is one of the things we want to keep going.”

Minor said this year’s accomplishments are credited to Mitchell’s leadership alongside fellow senior guard Jasmine Ivory, who was named an All-Metro Second-Team selection.

Mitchell ended her final campaign by averaging 24 points a game. She also pulled down an average of nine rebounds and registered three steals a contest.

“I really didn’t have to teach the kids a lot,” Minor said. “They pretty much knew what they had to do and how to do it. They made coaching easy for me.”

Minor also said her team was known for the way they carried themselves, no matter where they went.

“We talked about what I expect,” she said. “I think because we do have that kind of understanding, it makes a better team.”

“From the time we are on the bus all the way to the court, (Minor) is making sure that everything is in order,” Mitchell added about the Trinity’s polished nature. “She is like a mom, and she takes care of us.”

Mitchell, who was named to the MAIS A-AA All-Star roster, has no plans of slowing down and is expected to sign with Jackson State University on April 12.

“There is so much I love about basketball,” she said. “It doesn’t matter to me how many points I have, I just want to go out and have fun. I don’t think I’m going to give it up anytime soon.”