Mixon it up
By Steve Behr

When Brittany Mixon arrived at Appalachian State to play basketball four years ago, she was somebody who could be called a “gentle giant.”

At 6-foot-3, Mixon was often the tallest player on the court. Yet, she is also a nice person who expects to be teaching elementary education when she graduates this spring.

What Mixon didn’t have was the aggressiveness needed to play the low post in the Southern Conference.

Teams with smaller players would not need to double team her since she did not show enough aggressiveness toward scoring points at close range.

It was up to current head coach Darcie Vincent to bring the aggressive player out of Mixon.

Going into the Southern Conference Tournament, Vincent looks like she’s succeeded.

“Brittany is a very kindhearted person,” Vincent said. “When you put your uniform on, you become a basketball player. You’re not Brittany Mixon, you’re an Appalachian State player. It took a few games for her to become the post player I wanted her to become. Last season, she let the defense push her out and not let her get any good looks.

“Obviously, she’s considered one of the most dominating low post players in our league. It’s a tribute to her that everybody is doubling her because at the beginning of the season, they weren’t.”

There’s a reason why Mixon is being double-teamed by defenses. It is simply a bad idea to guard Mixon one-on-one. A senior, Mixon ended her regular-season career Saturday by scoring 14 points and pulling down five rebounds in a 68-59 victory over Georgia Southern at the Holmes Center.

On Thursday, Mixon and the rest of the Mountaineers take on Furman in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn. Tipoff is 3 p.m.

Mixon feels she has grown as a player during her senior year, and her scoring average has reflected that. Mixon averages 12.1 points per game this year (ninth in the SoCon, first on the team), compared to the 8.7 points per game she averaged last season and the 6.8 Mixon scored per game her first three seasons combined.

Mixon has reached double figures in scoring 21 times out of 29 games this year. She scored a career-high 25 points in a win over Elon and 24 points in a loss to Davidson.

Her previous career-high was 18 points, but she’s scored at least 20 points five times this season.

She also grabs 6.8 rebounds per game, which is ninth in the league. Mison is second in the SoCon with 1.9 blocked shots per game. Mixon leads the teams in double-doubles with eight, getting her last one at UNC Greensboro on Feb, 23.

“Most definitely I’ve grown with my leadership skills and my aggression,” Mixon said. “The frustration fouls are still there, but I feel I’ve grown into a better player. I know how to look for my shots and to tell (teammates) to get me the ball instead of just saying ‘Oh well, I didn’t get the ball this time.’ I’ve definitely matured.”

Mixon has come a long way since her first game, which was a victory over Nichols State in the Cyclone Classic in Ames, Iowa on Dec. 30, 2005. She did not score in that game, but grabbed two rebounds.

It was the only game she played that year.

“I don’t know why we were in Iowa,” said Mixon, who was born In Indiana, but resides in Altamonte Springs, Fla., which is north of Orlando. “I had two rebounds and I remember the corn.”

She was a little more active in her sophomore season. Mixon started two of the 23 games she played and averaged 4.6 points and 3.1 rebounds each outing. Last season, those numbers jumped to 28 starts in 30 games and an 8.7 points per game scoring averages. She also grabbed 6.5 boards per game.

“It’s been the best four years of my life,” Mixon said. “Especially this past year. The coaches, the girls, everything has been wonderful.”

Mixon also felt Boone was a pretty wonderful place to spend her college years. Getting away from the Orlando area was one of the reasons she decided to attend Appalachian State. She was one of seven freshmen to sign with the Mountaineers that year, but the only one to play basketball through her senior season.

“The people and the scenery,” Mixon said. “It’s like living in a post card. I needed to get out of the fast pace of Florida.”

Mixon closed out the regular season in a postcard fashion. Not only did the Mountaineers beat Georgia Southern Saturday, but she got to take a bow by leaving the game with 34 seconds left, by herself, to a standing ovation.

“I really don’t have any tear ducts left, I promise,” she said. “I almost cried. I didn't know they were going to say ‘For the last time.’”

There was also the little matter of hugging assistant coach Lisa Gottuso when Mixon went to the bench.

“I definitely knocked coach Gottuso in the nose,” Mixon confessed. “So she cried for me.”

Vincent wanted to have Mixon receive a final ovation, but the game’s circumstances made it difficult. As the clock ran down, there finally was a deadball that allowed for assistant coach Lindsay Smith, who had her Senior Day at Appalachian State in 2005, to put Catherine Williams into the game for Mixon.

“I was all confused,” Vincent said. “Lindsay asked if we wanted to do it and I said ‘Yeah, just tell me what to do.’ I was still coaching. I was putting Cat in for defensive purposes. Finally Lindsay said ‘Right now.’ So we were able to do it.”

There is more to Mixon than just basketball. Mixon is also the treasurer of the Student Athlete Advisory Board and she supports the club sports that are offered at Appalachian State. But a big night for Mixon usually involves going to dinner and “maybe a movie.”

“I’m kind of boring, actually.”

Playing in the Southern Conference Tournament won’t be boring for Mixon. Appalachian State has not advanced past the quarterfinal round since they won the event in 1999.

It won’t be much easier for the Mountaineers this time around. Should the No. 8-seeded Mountaineers beat No. 9-seeded Furman, they’ll play the 10-time regular-season champion, and tournament host, Chattanooga.

“It’s been a short trip recently,” Mixon said. “Hopefully our trip to Chatt will be a little longer. I don’t really want to go home that soon.”

Appalachian State point guard Brittney Spencer said she’d like to play a few more games with her teammate.

“Playing with her was awesome,” Spencer said. “She is such a team player and is a friend off the court. She is an awesome person and she has a big heart. She’s our leader. When we’re down and we need motivation and encouragement, we look to Mixon. She’s the mother of the team.”