A Wisdom To Tell

If you meet Marissa Tell, you would think that’s a nice young lady who likes to play basketball. Then you watch her play and you see how she is a perfect fit for the mascot of the Golden Tornado at Haynesville. The reason is the havoc and chaos she can cause with her instinct and defensive prowess. The first game I observed Ms. Tell was at Arcadia Tournament facing the Gibsland-Coleman Lady Bulldogs: 19 points and 10 blocks. On Saturday night of the same week against the Lincoln Prep Lady Panthers: 19 points, 13 rebounds. A few weeks later got another opportunity to see her in action at the Castor Tournament against the host team. Although it was not a double-double, the numbers were still impressive: 21 points, 6 steals, and 7 blocks.

But as you watch her more, you realize that it is not all chaotic as you see, and you see it’s not all about her on the court. It’s controlled and she can turn the switch on when she wants. In her home game against the Ringgold, I observed a player who could have easily scored 30-35 points, but I saw an unselfish player allow the spotlight to move away from her and allow her team to grow and learn. Just like she did. It’s an art that she has learned from all around her years in Haynesville. When I asked her to describe who Marissa Tell is she described herself as “an average basketball player trying to make it to the next level.”

Tell is in her fourth year as a Lady Tor. She’s been playing since seventh grade and her education started on that bench early. “Playing as a seventh-grader, I sat and watched a lot,” Tell said. “I tried to build off what they used to do. Just learned the way they played.”

She not only got her knowledge from her basketball peers but at home. I would say the credentials at home are pretty solid. Her mother is Texas Tech Hall of Famer and two-time All-American, Connie Robinson Tell. Oh, by the way, she’s Marrissa’s coach. She may have to take the court home sometimes, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “Honestly, some people think it’s bad, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Tell said. “At least, I know what I’m doing wrong or what I’m doing right. Oh, I get to hear it when I get home. I understand it’s all to make me better. I just listen.” Growing up as the middle child.

The basketball savvy that she has accumulated through the years, she’s showing on the court with constant double-double performances. But Tell is humble about it, she wants to pass that wisdom along. When asked what her average was, she couldn’t answer you. “The main thing is to involve my teammates,” Tell said. “Because if I involve them I feel we play better as a team.”

In her eyes, she hasn’t perfected her game, although you can see the instinctive defensive skills. “I want to be stronger at defense. I’m stronger at defense than offense because I can move to the rim and block shots and get steals.” She also plays AAU with one of her chief district rivals, Homer Lady Pel’s Jordan Shelton to hone her skills.

Marissa has a checklist of items to accomplish this season including repeating as district champs and going to the state championship. “We want to be returning district champs,” Tell said. “We’re trying to stay in the Top 5 so we can get a first-round home game. Then go get us a ring.”

Not only bring the ‘ship home for the team but for her community. “It’s been so long for the girls since we’ve been to a state championship. We want to be the first team to go there.”

I’ve probably embarrassed the humble Tell already, but I have to end on this one-note. I simply asked her what other sports does she like to do. Her answer was “I run track. 4×200, 100 meters hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, and I do the triple jump.” Here’s what she failed to mention if I hadn’t researched. She’s medalled 11 times in the past three years. She was the state champion in the 4×200, 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and triple jump. Her freshman year, she was state runner-up in all the above categories. Finally, in her eighth-grade year, she was state champion in the 4×400 and state runner-up in the 4×200 and 100-meter hurdles.

So if you see this mild and meek young lady in Haynesville, you might not want to challenge her to a game of one-on-one. You might wind up in a storm…but she’ll be really nice about it and teach you a thing or two.