THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407210187
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
COACH STEVE DOUGLAS called his Kempsville Lady Chiefs' summer basketball league success ``a building process.''
If that's true - and it certainly looked so on the night of July 13 - future opponents must be excused if they feel like a ton of bricks landed on them. The Indian River girls team might still be climbing out from under the rubble.
Kempsville did more destroying than building in winning the championship game of the Rising Stars Summer Basketball League. They tore apart Indian River, 54-17, at Princess Anne High School.
Kempsville used a smothering defense and a patient offense in running away with the title.
``We used a full-court and half-court pressure defense,'' Douglas said. ``Charlette (Fayton) shut down their big scorer (Juanika Freeman). That helped us build a big lead at the half.''
Fayton, a rising junior, returns to Kempsville next season, one of many returnees from the team that finished second in the Beach District to eventual state champion Salem. Douglas works as an assistant to Chiefs head coach Greg Dunn during the school year.
Although Kempsville overwhelmed Indian River in the summer league championship, Douglas - like most coaches - stopped short of making reckless predictions. He expressed guarded optimism about next season.
``We do return our key players. And the girls played well together in the summer league. We should do OK,'' he said. ``Besides, Greg is the head coach. He'll make the decisions about who plays then.''
A third-year coach at the school, Douglas shared summer coaching duties with Beth Dunton. The Kempsville coaches have a superb cast to work with.
Carrie Johnson is one of only three players on the summer roster who will be a senior next season. At 6-foot-2, Johnson plays dominating defense and scores inside.
``She blocks shots, rebounds and takes charges on defense. One of her best assets is that she rotates so quickly on defense,'' Douglas said.
Johnson scored 10 points against Indian River in the final game.
Point guard Erin Duckett had 11 points in the championship game, most of them coming as the Lady Chiefs built an insurmountable early lead.
``I coached Erin in AAU,'' said Douglas.
He praised her rapid improvement.
``She developed a great jump shot,'' he said. ``She'll probably start at point guard and play a lot of minutes. That's real unusual for a sophomore.''
Toni Patilla is a classmate of Duckett's and a rising sophomore.
A fine all-around athlete, the 5-7 Patilla runs the floor, plays defense and rebounds like a 6-footer.
``She opens up the defense,'' said Douglas. ``When other teams try to collapse around Johnson, Patilla finds the weak spot and scores, often on offensive rebounds.''
Another sophomore - Laura Steadman - alternates at point guard with Duckett. Douglas called her ``a settling force'' on the team.
``She penetrates, helps out on defense, knows her role real well,'' he said.
The latter may be the Chiefs' strength. For such a young team, the Lady Chiefs mesh as a unit. They play within themselves.
Lori Henn, a ripe-old veteran going into the 11th grade, added another dimension to the Chiefs game, coming off the bench and shooting from downtown.
``Lori goes in, spots up and shoots the threes,'' Douglas said.
Douglas spoke highly of the play of other Rising Stars Leaguers from Kempsville.
``Adrian Nichols is tough on defense and likes to penetrate and dish off on offense,'' he said. ``Kristin Cholewa is our sixth man. She can play any position on the floor. She's the glue that holds the team together.''
Douglas likes the idea of summer-league play.
``You want them to play against the highest level of competition they can. The league gave us that opportunity,'' said Douglas.
The Rising Stars Summer League is in its second season and is AAU-affiliated. Organizer Brian Miller coaches the girls team at Princess Anne High School. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Erin Duckett, a rising sophomore at Kempsville High, applies
pressure to Indian River's Nichole Council. Duckett, a point guard,
also had 11 points in the final, most of them in the decisive early
part of the game.
by CNB