Arrington's shining moment tempered by mother's death

JOHN MAFFEI

North County Times

ESCONDIDO - It should have been a time of great joy.

For four seasons, senior Felicia Arrington battled to win a league title for the Orange Glen High girls basketball team. And when the final buzzer sounded last Tuesday in a victory at Ramona, clinching the Valley League crown, she searched the stands for her best friend, her mother Nancy. But she wasn't there.

On Nov. 30, the 43-year-old Nancy Arrington died of breast cancer that had spread to her liver. It was her second go-round with the disease.

"I looked into the stands after that game, and almost broke down," Felicia Arrington said. "It was so hard to finally win a championship (Orange Glen's first in girls basketball since 1977) and not see my mom.

"She was my best friend, the person who got me started in athletics, even though she wasn't an athlete. She was at every game, and we always went out to dinner afterward. If we won, we'd get a big gooey desert."

Nancy Arrington's passing left her only daughter on her own. Coy Arrington, Felicia's father, and Nancy, suffered through a bitter divorce in Felicia's sophomore year. He's out of the family picture.

Felicia Arrington's relatives live in Colorado, and while a move there is probable, it wasn't going to happen during the basketball season.

So friends helped. At the urging of Alan and Janet Conrad, Felicia Arrington moved in with her friend, Chelsea Conrad, a tennis player at San Pasqual.

"My mom set that up," Felicia Arrington said. "Even when she was sick, she was thinking of me."

Not everything has gone smooth, however. While her game and grades have stayed strong since her mother's death, a loan officer recently took Felicia Arrington car, despite promises to make payments.

"It kinda makes you wonder about people," she said.

Lately, opposing defenses have had to acknowledge the 5-foot-10 Arrington. She finished the league season averaging 9.9 points and 8.7 rebounds a game, including season-high, 14-point games against Ramona and San Pasqual.

Tonight, the No. 7-ranked Patriots (23-5), seeded third in the CIF Division II playoffs, open postseason play tonight at home against Valley League and cross-town rival San Pasqual.

"One of my daughter's strongest desires was to survive to see Felicia's team win a championship," said Bob Thomas, Nancy Arrington's father and Felicia's grandfather.

"Her mother was such an integral part of her games, so it was hard on Felicia for her not to be there. We all lived with the possibility of Nancy's death, so we were prepared when she passed. But that didn't make it any easier."Although, she left behind a zest which her daughter embraces.

"Nancy lived life like an adventure, and she passed her best qualities to Felicia," Thomas said. "I'm amazed at Felicia's skill level on the floor, but I'm more proud of her because she's such a kind and caring person."

Orange Glen coach Phill Anderson, whose daughter Katie is the team's leading scorer, said the play of Arrington and fellow senior Nicholle Stanhke, is what put the Patriots over the top in the league.

"Felicia is one tough girl, obviously mentally, but physically, too," Anderson said. "She has played on two sprained ankles and has never complained. She plays great defense, has a great work ethic, and leaves everything she has on the floor. With Felicia, there is never a lack of effort."

Arrington hopes her efforts are rewarded with a college scholarship. She has drawn interest from several NAIA schools in Southern California, as well as Colorado State, Colorado College and Colorado Christian.

Rex Terry, her coach for three seasons at OG before moving to Alameda High in Lakewood, Colo., is doing his best to make Arrington's dream come true.

"I've coached Felicia since the sixth grade, and she's a wonderful kid," Terry said. "She and my daughter (Paige) have been friends for a long time. Beyond that, though, Felicia can play. She can get up and down the court, has good moves inside and can shoot the ball. She had to grow up mentally, but she has done that."

Now she has something else to do - secure a championship.After watching the Orange Glen boys win a CIF Division II title two years ago and advance to the title game last year, Arrington said she and her teammates are mentally prepared for a run at a banner to call their own. Watching the boys play two years in a row at Cox Arena, only served to wet the appetite of the girls.

"I'm pretty sure I'll move to Colorado after graduation, so I want to leave something behind," she said. "I'll do everything I can to get us Cox Arena."

The road to the final, however, isn't easy.

Should the Patriots beat San Pasqual for a third time, they'll tackle the Monte Vista-Eastlake winner, then probably draw No. 2 seed University City in the semifinals.

"It's going to be tough, but I know now I can get through anything," said Felicia Arrington, who's interests aren't restricted to basketball. "My mom was a flute player. She introduced me to music, got me into ballet and modeling. She passed a lot of good things on to me. I have some attributes other teens don't have, and I'll always love her for that.

"Hopefully, we'll have a good run in the playoffs, bring home a title, and leave something behind so people can remember us."She'll do so, by never forgetting her mom.

2/19/01

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