MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Many Marines aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar might not know about the air station’s women’s basketball team, but two individuals are trying to help the team become a household name.

Karen Walker, the assistant coach and team member, and Maurice Allen Jr., the team’s head coach, have maintained their love for the game during their active duty time in the Marine Corps and plan to take the little-known ladies’ team to new heights.

Walker played in the All-Marine Women’s Basketball Team from 2001 to 2008, but her streak was halted when she tore her meniscus during an All-Marine Tournament game, which required a season-ending surgery.

Although her streak as an All-Marine competitor was over, Walker began to recruit players aboard the air station last year in hopes of getting a roster big enough to compete against other teams in the region. There are currently more than ten members on the team.

Walker brings experience and leadership to the team both on and off the court, as she played and coached the team to an undefeated record. Walker led the team to a 3-0 record, but she decided to shift her focus to playing the game she loves.

“It was hard coaching and playing because you have to be able to see all the elements of the game,” said Walker, a native of Long Island, N.Y. “It’s difficult trying to call timeouts, change plays and defenses.”

Allen, who was an assistant coach of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms women’s basketball team from 2000-2002, stepped in to help Walker with the coaching duties, after the first stint of games.

Allen now works in coordination with Walker, concentrating on helping the team’s fundamentals stay strong by giving them tips and plays from the sidelines.

They were doing well, but still needed a coach who could see the whole picture to tell them what they were doing wrong, explained Allen.

During practice, Allen sets up different plays for the team to run to see what works better for the unit, he explained.

“They know their style because they are the ones on the court playing,” said Allen, a native of Leesburg, Fla. “I’m here to show them the basics, because sometimes players forget the fundamentals.”

The transition has not halted the team’s success. The team recently took first place in the San Diego Women’s Sunday League. They continue to schedule games against other teams across the region and plan to host a basketball invitational aboard the air station March 20 through 21 to showcase their skills, said Walker.

With Walker’s on-the-court experience and Allen guiding the team from the sidelines with his coaching prowess, the team is well on their way to the success and higher recognition.

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