Charlotte Amalie High School has a history of grooming competitive student athletes, and continued that tradition with Germequa Bell signing with Panola College in Carthage, Texas.
During a press conference on St. Thomas, Bell made it official by signing her letter of intent for the program, which is part of the Region XIV Athletic Conference. The conference was attended by Bell’s family, friends, teammates and coaches, who all expressed confidence in both her athletic and her academic abilities.
During her three years at CAHS, Bell dominated as a combination guard and defensive stopper who recently scored 30 points in her senior year against St. Croix’s Central High School. CAHS athletic officials said Bell normally averages 13 points, four assists, four rebounds and three steals a game.
"She played tremendously for her team," CAHS athletic director Myron Corbett said. "During that game against Central High, she shut down the school’s best player, on her way to being named Most Valuable Player of the Invitational tournament."
Bell caught the eye of Panola head coach Tracy Stellato in April, while showcasing her skills at the 15 annual Sun Stroke All-V.I. Hoops Classic in April.
"We are extremely excited about the addition of Germequa to the Panola family," Stellato said recently, adding that Central High’s Kadesha Barry will also be joining the junior college’s basketball ranks. "Our league is extremely athletic and these two young ladies represent the caliber of athlete we needed to be successful."
Stellato said in a statement that she expects Bell and Barry to follow in the footsteps of Virgin Islanders Lanese Bough – a two-year starter for the Fillies who was named to the All-Conference honorable mention list after her sophomore season – and fellow Chickenhawk Teandra Richardson, who will be returning to Panola for her second year after suffering a knee injury as a freshman.
"The Virgin Islands has been a valuable resource for us over the last two seaons and we know that these two young ladies (Germequa and Kadesha) will continue the tradition of hard work established by Lanesa and Teandra Richardson," Stellato said. "We think both young ladies are an excellent fit for our program and we are excited about their decision to join the PC nation."
While excited about playing on the Fillies team, Bell said she is also prepared to balance the course work needed to pursue a degree in computer information technology.
