Block Party

A local girl overcomes family tragedy to become one of the nation's best b-ballers

A A A Comments By Paul Kix Thursday, Mar 31 2005

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It's senior day at TCU, and the Horned Frogs are playing Houston. Sandora Irvin's off to a great start. By halftime, she has ten points and five blocks.

What a season she's had. She again broke TCU's single-season scoring record. Became TCU's all-time leader in points, rebounds, and blocked shots. Became the first player in school history to record a triple-double, with 20 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 blocks against the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The 16 blocks were a record; no NCAA basketball player, male or female, had ever blocked more than 15 in a game. In February, she became the all-time NCAA leader in blocked shots. Was selected to the Conference USA All-Decade team. Was named C-USA Player of the Year...

Mark Graham

Sandora Irvin: Pompano to Texas to the WNBA

TCU Athletics

Sandora scores points, but oh how she blocks shots.

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Four years later, just as she'd hoped, her name is all over those record books.

She calls her father about three times a week. Things are better. Daughn Irvin's spent the past seven days in Texas, watching Sandora's final three regular-season games. "I wanted to be here for this week," he says.

TCU loses to Houston, despite Sandora's 21 points, eight rebounds, and seven blocks. Amid the post-game handshakes, arena officials escort the woman in knee-high boots to the court. She's Angela Hollis. Sandora, it turns out, flew her mother in just to treat her. She had recently left jail following another cocaine charge.

With her parents standing behind her, Sandora's honored at half court. A bouquet of flowers. A framed portrait of herself in uniform. A standing ovation. Minutes later, with the bouquet now in her own arms and sunglasses once more on her nose, Angela Hollis sits not far from the rest of Sandora's family, more at ease than earlier, accepting praise for her daughter from passersby.

A man she does not know asks to sit with her. Her back straightens. She pauses to consider the offer. When she says yes, her voice is tense and high. Given your history, he says, given your daughter's history, what does it mean to be here today? To know that, despite all the things that have happened in the past, Sandora wanted you present for this?

"Oh," she says, her voice wavering now. She considers her words. Her sunglasses have slid down the bridge of her nose. You can see the red in her eyes. "I..." A short pause. "Overwhelmed. Very overwhelmed."

-- Staff Writer Sam Eifling contributed to this report