Boston signs to play hoops for Lewis and Clark

Boston signs to play hoops for Lewis and Clark

Marion senior looks to contribute to Illinois CC

Sports Editor A renewed commitment to basketball paid off for Marion senior Tei Boston.

At a ceremony at Marion High School yesterday afternoon, Boston signed on to play college basketball at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois.

“It was the only school to give me a full scholarship, which was good,” Boston explained following her signing ceremony. “I looked online and I really liked it and I just felt like it was a good fit for me.”

Boston averaged 7.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game during her senior season, a year that saw her Lady Patriots win a firstround state tournament game against Benton before falling to the eventual Class 6A runners-up from Russellville.

During her sophomore season, Boston battled an injury that eventually spilled over into her junior year, but once the senior shook that, she took off as a senior.

“In her junior year, she was in better shape than the year before and we saw some flashes of her having the ability to play at the next level,” explained Marion head coach Shunda Johnson. “See, Tei always told me that she was a shooter, I just didn’t realize it. But she developed that over the past few years, and I think that was a big deal for a few college coaches because that lets her play some stretch four.”

Boston said that she isn’t sure which position she’ll play most of the for the Lady Trailblazers, and some of that is because she’s still growing.

“I’m hoping that I can continue to grow and do more for them,” Boston said of her college destination.

Boston played on three state tournament teams at Marion and usually threatened a double-double, but she said that she didn’t have just one favorite moment as a Lady Patriot.

“I just liked going out and playing hard every night with my teammates,” said the senior.

Lewis and Clark is coached by Jaron Young and the Lady Trailblazers were 8-19 last season.

Boston will be joining five returning players when she arrives in the fall.

By Chuck Livingston