By Eric Bailey
Special for HINU LAWRENCE, Kan. - The rhythmic pounding of a drum has been the heartbeat of Indian Country for generations. This March, the magical sound has been rivaled by a dribbled basketball on the campus of Haskell Indian Nations University. The HINU women's basketball team will carry the hopes of a proud school and Indian Country in this year's NAIA Division II national tournament in Sioux City, Iowa. Haskell will face Shawnee State (Ohio) at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the event's first game. Haskell is distinctly unique from the other 31 schools in this year's tournament. The Lawrence, Kan., school is made up exclusively of students from federally recognized tribes. "It's such an honor and we're proud to represent Indian Country," said Justina George, a senior and the team's leading scorer. "I think about all the little girls back home. When I was younger, I wanted to play college basketball and go to a tournament with a big crowd. "I feel very proud and fortunate to experience this situation." Phil Homeratha is the Lady Indians' long-time coach. He's like a proud father when talking about his team. "This is a big reward for them," said Homeratha, whose squad is 20-8. "They don't get anything special (at Haskell). They're not pampered. They're not high-profile scholarship players. They come here to go to school and play. And they've bought into our basketball program. "Even if they don't win a game, I'm proud of them." Many different roads led these players to Haskell, where no athletic scholarships are awarded. "Haskell is wonderful," said George, an academic All-American. "It's a big opportunity for Native Americans. A lot of people don't see the hard work and the pride we have within ourselves. "We don't come in on a scholarship or have our school paid for us. We came here with the attitude that we're going to get an education and basketball is also played here." Homeratha sees himself as an educator that became a coach. And he's been successful at both jobs. While Haskell is making its NAIA-II Tournament debut, this isn't Homeratha's first team to experience national success. In 1998-99, the Lady Indians finished third nationally at the NJCAA Division II national tournament. The next year, the athletic department made the leap to the NAIA level. Going from the junior college level to a four-year school wasn't an easy transition. But Homeratha and his team persevered. Over the past decade, the program has steadily improved. "For years, I tried to help kids get to the next level (a four-year school)," Homeratha said. "Now, we're the next level. And we're not a bad next level." This season, the Lady Indians were consistently a Top 25 program. The team is led by George (Navajo). The 5-7 point guard is averaging 18.3 points, 5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.9 steals a game. She was named the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference player of the year. Senior Maria Parker (Oneida) is the school's all-time top rebounder. The 6-2 post player averages 16.7 points and 7 rebounds a game. She ranks 16th nationally (2.1 blocked shots per game). The team has been practicing at 8 a.m. each morning to prepare for the 8:30 tip-off on Wednesday. As the day draws closer, the anticipation continues to rise. "Every game could be our last game, especially with us seniors," George said. "We have to give it all we have and not let anything