WYE MILLS – The way Chesapeake College coach Gwen Barnes figures it, Skipjack basketball will continue all the glory of past seasons and use the players as resources for yet another success story.

It may just take a little longer to get there this winter. After starting 10-2 and 8-1 the past two seasons, Chesapeake is a respectable 6-3.

The Skipjacks aren’t putting up the same numbers in points and rebounds, but Barnes, who is in her eighth season, expects that to change because they have so much room to grow.

Chesapeake has all the qualities—height, speed and standout guard play– to finish the season with a flourish.

“We are using the first half to see what we need to work on to be ready for the second half of the season,” Barnes explained. “We didn’t have a season last year (because of the pandemic). I think it had an effect. We are dusting the rust off. As I look at it, we still have a young team. But they are really working hard to get better.”

Chesapeake may be getting closer to the level of play of past seasons. Two blowout wins over Hagerstown Community College seems to indicate as much.

“We are finding our identity,” Barnes said. “We can do a little bit of everything. We are a well-balanced team. We have a good defense and offense.”

Whatever games the Skipjacks win, 5-foot-8 sophomore guard Jayla Irvin will be at the center of those victories.

Irvin, a graduate of Annandale High in Northern Virginia, leads the team in scoring (20.8) per game and rebounding (7.9).

“She hasn’t committed to a college,” Barnes said. “There are a couple of Division I and Division II schools that are recruiting her. Most teams have a guard that is scoring and that is it. Or you have a guard that is leading in steals, but to lead the team in scoring and rebounding is very hard to do.”

Irvin, who worked as a key reserve two years ago for the Skipjacks, has had some memorable games.

Irvin totaled 31 points and eight rebounds in a 77-72 loss to Delaware Tech on December 1. Two days later, had 21 points, seven rebounds, six assists and six steals in a 75-60 victory over Community College of Baltimore–Catonsville.

“I wanted to be the go-to player for my team this year,” Irvin said. “I wanted to be the leader on the floor. I really worked out a lot in the offseason. I think that has helped. I also think part of it is mental. Two years ago, I sat back and let my teammates score. Now, I am doing the scoring.”

The player of freshman guard Nathalie Arroyave can’t be overlooked. She ranks second on the team in scoring (14.6) and leads in three-point field goal percentage (34.1).

Arroyave’s highlight of the season came in a win of CCBC-Catonsville. She finished with 29 points, six rebounds and three steals.

“She is another one of our top guards, and she has an excellent stroke,” Barnes said. “She is a fighter when she is on the floor. She is very aggressive and plays until the very end. That’s her biggest asset.”

Sophomore guard Azayah Garrison, freshman guard Deliayh Mohamed and center Allayah Brown-France support the two guards well in the starting lineup.

Freshmen guards Taiylor Bussey, and LaNiya Washington and freshman forward Na’kayla Smith and sophomore center Tatiana Holmes work mostly as top reserves.

“We can only go up from where we are now,” Irvin said. “I think the first half of the season is where you get the kinks out.”