Most head coaches are tasked with building success when they inherit a new program. Dominic Freeman faced a different challenge when he took over as Long Beach City College women’s basketball head coach ahead of the 2024-2025 season. Success was already there; Freeman needed to maintain it. And he has.
The Vikings had won four straight league championships prior to Freeman’s arrival. LBCC has added two more titles to that tally under Freeman. A seventh consecutive league title has become the expectation for Freeman’s Vikings. They entered the year as the No. 21 team in the state and have aspirations beyond South Coast Conference hardware.
“We want to continue to keep that going with league titles and continue to press forward in the playoffs this year,” Freeman said.
LBCC lost in the opening round of the 3C2A playoffs during Freeman’s first season, but made it one round further a year ago. In order to sustain their progression, the Vikings will need to win multiple postseason games for the first time since reaching the state quarterfinals in 2023-2024.
Before contemplating a deep playoff run, though, Freeman’s squad must navigate the regular season sprint that spans almost four months. The Vikings will lean on their veteran leadership to do so.
Redshirt sophomore’s Reniya Walker and Zariha Smith missed the 2025-2026 season due to injury. But both third-year centers will provide a nucleus for the Vikings on and off the court.
“They can articulate [expectations] on the court, off the court — hold people accountable,” Freeman said.
Freeman elaborated on that, explaining how junior college coaching includes a lot of reteaching since most athletes are only around for one or two years. He said Walker and Smith have helped him communicate the program’s standards to the newcomers.
Smith and Walker both saw moderate playing time as freshmen two years ago. The former averaged over five rebounds and 2.9 points per game as a freshman, while Walker tallied just under six boards and 5.5 points a game.
Walker has started all five of LBCC’s games thus far. She posted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double against Antelope Valley on Oct. 31 — a bright spot in an otherwise rough start to the year.
The Vikings have started 0-5 and haven’t been overly competitive in those contests.
Scoring has been the biggest concern as LBCC has failed to break 50 points in any of their losses. The Vikings are yet to shoot above 35% from the field or 25% from deep in game this year.
Some of those offensive struggles could likely be attributed to LBCC’s inexperience around their few veterans.
Freeman has started first-year wing Madisyn Smith and freshman guard Hannah Fuentes in all five games thus far.
The Vikings’ head coach likes the offensive versatility Fuentes provides.
“She stands out a lot because her basketball IQ is something that we’re gonna need,” Freeman said. “I think her returning as a redshirt — she was injured last year — is going to be a high bump.”
As Freeman also highlighted, Fuentes’ situational awareness makes her an effective shooter and facilitator. The 5-foot-6 point guard averaged a team-best 11 points per game during the Mt. SAC Tournament, and her offensive impact should continue to blossom as she stacks more minutes in her return from injury.
Freeman is also high on freshmen frontcourt players Devoni Ray and Saniya Keys.
Ray is a 5-foot-7 forward and former First Team All-Moore League selection from Lakewood, although Freeman said she’s recovering from a knee injury. Keyes started the final two games from LBCC’s opening weekend, averaging six points and five and a half rebounds in those contests.
With the litany of newcomers, building chemistry on the court may be a work in progress early in the year. But Freeman is encouraged by the unity he’s seen so far.
“Our word this year has been ‘together,’” Freeman said. “This is probably the most close-knit team we have, and it falls right into the theme of together.”
Freeman views the program as a “family” and tries to build that culture on and off the hardwood.
Freeman said the Vikings went to a Los Angeles Sparks game together and have made other outings to USC and UCLA basketball games in the past. LBCC also played a scrimmage at the Los Angeles Air Force Base a few weeks ago.
“We’re in the court yelling and working hard,” Freeman said. “It’s important that they see how much I care and see me in a different light than in the gym.”
The Vikings will play in several other tournaments in November before hosting Canyons in their home opener on Dec. 1.
