Love and basketball

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

It’s going to take a lot more than a bad heart to slow down Satoria Bell.
And she’s proving that every day on the Northeast High School basketball court.
You would never know by watching the powerhouse swingman that she deals with cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes the heart to beat irregularly.
"One day my heart started beating really, really fast, and then it just stopped," Bell said of the rhythm change. "I was scared, so I called my mom. We went to St. Christopher’s and all I remember is hearing the doctor say, ‘You have a bad heart.’ My mom didn’t take it very well. She started screaming and then I started crying."
The horrifying experience happened earlier this year, forcing Bell to undergo various treatments toward recovery.
"It took a lot for me to get healthy," said Bell, a junior who lives in Logan. "I had to take medicine, and take a lot of stress tests, then go under mild doses of radiation. It was really scary at first. It was a hard thing to go through.
"I didn’t even know if I was going to play this year," she continued. "It was a really hard thing, because I thought that I was never going to play basketball again."
But for an athlete like Bell, a life without basketball was never an option.
"She’s a tough kid," said Vikings coach Rich Kirk. "She’s a really passionate player."
Maybe it was her determination. Maybe it was the medicine.
But despite the doctor’s estimated six-month recovery time, Bell was back on the court within two months.
"The medicine must have helped or something," she said, "because the doctor said he doesn’t see that much of a problem anymore."
There have been no problems indeed. Bell averages about 20 points per game — by far the highest scorer on the Vikings.
"I don’t think about how much I score per game," said Bell. "I guess when it’s time and my team needs me to score, I will. When they put the ball in my hands, I’ll do what I have to to help them win."
After a rough start, the Vikings ended the season with a 14-10 record. They’ve won 12 of the last 14 games they’ve played, including a 13-3 record against Public League foes.
"I think one big difference is now we have a healthy team," said Bell. "We had a lot of health issues in the beginning of the year, but now we’re healthy and we’re ready."
Even with that improving health among the players, Northeast was unable to defeat Central Dauphin on March 9 in Hershey. The Vikings lost, 71-43, and that ended their season.
Looking back on a good year, there is no doubt that the Vikings are a strong team. With powerhouses like Bell, alongside captains Georgette Elms and Peaches Nesmith, the Vikings have built a reputation for being a tough team on the court.
"We have a good team of athletes," said Kirk. "When they play together, they mesh well. They play with that team concept, and I think that’s what makes us so great."
As for Bell, much of her strength can be attributed to her city AAU league.
"Without my AAU team, I wouldn’t be here," said Bell. "They taught me everything. They taught me how to dribble the ball and how to take a jump shot. But I like playing for two teams. It’s not hard. I mean, it’s basketball. It’s what I love to do."
Although she’s been playing ball for only three years, Bell has already achieved an impressive athletic resume.
"There were some drills as a freshman she just couldn’t do," said Kirk. "She’s always had talent, but she’s come a long way. Now she’s one of the dominant players."
Bell has scored more than 360 points this season. But her athletic skills stretch far beyond basketball. During her rendezvous with football at Northeast last season, her impressive skills helped her pick up the nickname "Sic."
"They couldn’t believe how good I was playing for the boys team," she said of her male teammates. "They kept telling me I was sick with everything I did. And I guess the nickname just stuck."
These days, her athletic skills are playing out strictly on the basketball court.
"I was going to play football for Northeast, but then the heart problem came along, so my mom said maybe not," Bell said.
The teen wasn’t too happy with the news. Regardless of her mother’s parental instinct to put her daughter’s health first, Bell is convinced she is fine.
"My mom and grandmom worry about me a lot," said Bell. "They’re always asking me, ‘How are you feeling? Are you tired? Did you get enough rest?’ I was pretty weary in the beginning, but now I know I’m fine. I play like nothing’s wrong.
"I don’t think about it as much," she added. "I just watch how I’m feeling. If I start feeling tired, I tell the coach to pull me off the floor right away or I’ll call a time-out until I catch my breath. But I know I’m OK."
Bell has the determination. She has the strong will, and she definitely has love for the game. It doesn’t look like she’s going to slow down anytime soon.
"I definitely want to keep playing ball," she said. "I want to play in college."
But in the meantime, she plans to keep up her skills on the court and continue scoring as many points as she can at game time.
"I just want to play basketball," said Bell. "I try not to pay attention to all the other stuff too much. My coach said, ‘Big-time players make big-time shots and big-time plays.’ He taught me that you have to play the best you can, and that you got to do it when it counts." ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com