ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 13, 1997 basketball TAG: 9704150003
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR SARA MOORE
Sara Moore,
Senior, 5-9, Lord Botetourt
Season statistics: Moore's 15.7 scoring average tells only part of the story. She teamed with 1996 Timesland Player of the Year Sarah Hicks to guide the Cavaliers to a second straight Group AA crown. She averaged just over five assists a game and shot 54 percent from the field and 71 percent from the free-throw line. When Hicks missed three games because of an injury, Moore stepped up her scoring to 21.6 and guided the Cavaliers to three straight Blue Ridge District victories. She was co-Player of the Year in the Blue Ridge District and the Player of the Year in Group AA. She has signed a letter of intent with Campbell University for basketball.
Favorite TV show: ``Party of Five.''
Favorite pro sports team: Chicago Bulls.
Job I dream of doing in life: Public relations representative for Nike.
The game I remember the most in my high school career: When I scored my 1,000th career point against Jefferson Forest the first week of this season.
COACH OF THE YEAR
David Wheat, Lord Botetourt
1996-1997 season: Wheat is a repeat winner of this award, but he won't be around to go for a three-peat. That's because Wheat announced his retirement shortly after the Cavaliers won a second consecutive Group AA title. Lord Botetourt posted a 27-2 record, with the only two losses coming to William Byrd. The Cavaliers beat the Terriers three times, including the key game of the season in a Group AA semifinal. In the championship game, Botetourt destroyed Charlottesville 72-41. What made Wheat's task more difficult this year was that everyone was up for Lord Botetourt, whereas a year ago teams weren't trying to knock off a defending state champion. He beat Byrd's Richard Thrasher and Pulaski County's Buddy Farris, whose team lost only two games, for the honor.
SOPHOMORE OF THE YEAR
(Also All-Timesland first team)
Heather Miller,
Sophomore,
5-9, Bassett
Season statistics: Miller, one of two sophomore All-Timesland players, had a dominating year as the top player in Region IV as she averaged 22.5 points a game. In fall Timesland statistics, Miller qualified for five categories - field-goal (51.7) and free-throw (67.5)
percentages, assists (3.5),
3-point shooting (34.6) and rebounding (9.2). She was also Timesland's second-leading scorer. Miller's best game was a 45-point performance as the Bengals beat Laurel Park 68-56 in the Piedmont District tournament championship game.
Favorite TV show: ``Seventh Heaven.''
Favorite pro sports team: Chicago Bulls.
Job I dream of doing in life: Being an anesthesiologist. They make a lot of money.
The game I remember the most in my high school career: The Piedmont District championship game against Laurel Park. We won and it was a great team effort.
Sarah Hicks,
Senior, 6-0, Lord Botetourt
Season statistics: Hicks led Botetourt in scoring with a 19.5 average and pulled down seven rebounds a game. She shot 56 percent from the field and 72 percent from the line and shared Player of the Year honors in the Blue Ridge District with Sara Moore. Hicks was All-Group AA for the second straight year and, like Moore, is a repeat All-Timesland pick. After missing three games with an injury, Hicks returned to post her season high of 31 points in a victory over Salem. In the state championship game, she scored 30. She has signed a letter of intent with Virginia Tech.
Favorite TV show: ``Party of Five.''
Favorite pro sports team: Dallas Cowboys.
Job I dream of doing in life: To be a marine biologist. When I was a little kid, I liked to work with animals.
The game I remember the most in my high school career: Winning the Group AA championship as a junior. We were playing such a good team [William Byrd] from our district. It was the first time I had experienced playing for a state championship.
Katrina Williams,
Sophomore, 5-5, Pulaski County
Season statistics: Williams averaged 17.9 points as Pulaski County dominated the Roanoke Valley District and Northwest Region, going through the competition without a loss. Williams, who was All-Timesland as a freshman, led the Cougars back to the Group AAA tournament as she shot 45 percent from the field and 76 percent from the line while dishing out three assists.
Favorite TV show: ``ESPN SportsCenter.''
Favorite pro sports team: Houston Astros because I know Billy Wagner.
Job I dream of doing in life: To coach college basketball.
The game I remember the most in my high school career: The game we played against Gar-Field this year for a bunch of reasons. We weren't picked to win and I was injured.
Brandy Allen,
Junior, 6-0, William Byrd
Season statistics: Allen averaged
14.5 points on a team that had a lot of offensive weapons and arguably was the state's second best team after beating Lord Botetourt twice before losing a close game in a Group AA semifinal. She also averaged 8.0 rebounds and shot 51 percent from the field. One of her best games came as Allen scored 20 points to lead Byrd past the Cavaliers 58-52 for the Region III championship.
Favorite TV show: ``Party of Five.''
Favorite pro sports team: The Chicago Bulls.
Job I dream of doing in life: Kindergarten teacher because I like little kids.
The game I remember the most in my high school career: The state championship game last year [that Byrd lost to Lord Botetourt], because it was the last game I played with Cathy Smith and other senior friends.
LENGTH: Long : 118 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 6 color photos. Graphic: Color chart: The best of theby CNBrest. KEYWORDS: MGR