Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993 TAG: 9309020226
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BY M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Long
The 10th coach - Floyd County's Alan Cantrell - doesn't like to make brash predictions.
"I always tell myself and tell my team not to give the opponents fuel to use on their fire," said Cantrell, whose team won its first 27 games last season before losing by two points to eventual state champion Wilson Memorial in the Group A semifinals.
"I tell them they should always speak positively and be humble and keep things in the right perspective," he said.
However, the other district coaches put things in a little different perspective. They see a team with 15 varsity players; some Mountain Empire teams have half that many. They see a team with three 6-foot players; no one else has more than two.
They see a team that has lost three district regular-season games and six games overall the past three seasons. They see a team that defeated Group AA and AAA competition at summer team camps.
They see the No. 4-ranked team in Timesland - the only Group A squad in the Top 5.
And most of all, the coaches see a team they fully expect to win the state Group A title in Salem in December.
The Buffaloes' list of returnees is staggering. At the top is senior Lynette Nolley. The 6-1 post was all-state last year, and she was among Timesland's leaders in every statistical category. She averaged 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Then there is point guard Monica Lucas. The 5-4 senior averaged five assists and six points per game.
Other seniors are 6-0 post Brennen O'Neill (six points per game), 5-11 post Cherie Quesenberry (six ppg), 5-9 guard April Harris (five ppg), 5-8 guard Susan Whalen (three ppg) and 5-6 guard Amie Manning (two ppg).
Then there are four returning underclassman, led by 5-7 junior guard Leigh-Ann Pursifull, who was second on the team in scoring last year with about 10 points per game. The other three are 5-10 junior post Laura Harman (six ppg), 6-1 junior post Carrie Chaffin (five ppg) and 5-7 sophomore guard Melissa Cantrell (five ppg).
That's about 74 points per game returning. Plus a lot of versatility.
"We're going to mix it [the lineup] up, using different kids, depending on who we're playing," Cantrell said. "We're really blessed with kids with a lot of talent. We'll have a group for when a team likes to spread the court and be patient, a group against an outside-shooting team, a group for every type of team. Hopefully, we'll be able to keep the right combination out there and that will keep us playing well."
Still, there are nine other teams in the Mountain Empire District. And each plays Floyd at home and away, so anything could happen.
Galax is expected to be the second-best team in the district. Challenging for that spot will be Auburn, Shawsville and Narrows.
\ GALAX (8-14) will be young but experienced.
The Maroon Tide returns three starters: junior 5-9 forward Jaclyn Dickens (17.8 points per game), sophomore 5-11 post Tammy Cox (11.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game) and 5-7 guard Annie Hart.
The development of junior varsity players, particularly 5-4 sophomore point-guard Candi Owen and 5-8 junior forward Kelly Hazelwood, will determine if Galax contends as expected.
"Hopefully, we'll be up there," coach Patti Nelson said. "If we play smart and play together, we'll be successful."
\ SHAWSVILLE (13-6) could be in line for back-to-back second-place finishes.
Three starters return for the Shawnees: 5-3 senior guard Kelley Ryan (4.0 assists per game), 5-4 senior forward Amy Robertson and 5-2 junior guard Sandy Burdette.
Others returning are Robin Burdette, a 5-6 junior forward and Sandy's twin, and 5-2 senior guard Missy Flight.
Brandy Alexander, a 4-11 junior, moves up from the junior varsity to take over at point guard.
Shawsville hopes speed compensates for its lack of height.
"We're going to have to play real good defense, and our defense is going to have to be our offense," coach Tracy Poff said. "We're going to have trouble going five-on-five because of our lack of height and depth."
\ AUBURN (12-8) hopes to improve on last year's middle-of-the-pack finish.
The Eagles have three starters returning: 5-2 senior point-guard Angie Simpkins (11.6 points per game), 5-9 forward Lori Lyons (11.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game) and 5-6 junior guard Sherry Smith.
Also back is 5-6 senior guard Holly Link.
Three juniors from the junior varsity squad last season are expected to contribute: 5-8 post Renay Gardner, 5-7 forward Jessica Janney and 5-6 forward Julie Hollins.
Like a lot of teams in the district, Auburn has good speed but little height.
"As a team, our strength is going to be our quickness," coach Kevin Harris said. "We're going to be real fast, relatively speaking, compared to the competition. We're going to be able to get the ball up-and-down the court fairly quickly."
\ NARROWS (12-9) has a lot of talent and a rash of preseason injuries.
The Green Wave's top returnee is 6-0 senior center Melinda Fleeman, who averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Others back are 6-0 senior post Billie Lucas, 5-9 senior forward Tessa Turner and 5-8 sophomore point guard Melissa Lawrence.
Becky Turner, a 5-7 sophomore forward, and Suzanne Webb, a 5-9 freshman forward, will move up from the junior varsity.
Three others have been slowed by injuries. Sarah Kellam, a 5-6 senior guard, hurt an ankle in team camp this summer. Jennifer Shrader, a 5-5 senior guard, and Sabrina Blackenship, a 5-6 sophomore guard, have been hobbled by knee and shin problems, respectively.
"If we can get our team in order and get the injuries behind us and get our people out there," said coach Todd Lusk, "I think we can finish in the top four."
\ FORT CHISWELL (16-6) lost all five starters to graduation.
Three returning players saw a lot of action on the squad that advanced to the Region C tournament: 5-8 senior post Stephanie Felts, 5-4 senior guard Stacy Poole and 5-7 junior guard Trish Steuart.
"We're looking pretty good in practice," coach Danny Jonas said. "But until we go against another team, I just don't know how we'll do."
\ GRAYSON COUNTY (12-7) also was hit hard by graduation.
Tia Sexton, a 5-8 senior post, is the only returning starter. Juniors Teri Sumner, a 5-4 point guard, and Erin Young, a 5-8 forward, are up from the junior varsity team.
"We're having to take some girls on the varsity who normally would be playing JV," coach Larry Bolt said. "Hopefully, some of the other teams will be as inexperienced as us."
\ ROCKY GAP (6-15) is looking to build around its returnees' shooting and speed.
The Eagles' starting lineup returns: 5-5 senior guard Christine Witt (19 points per game), 5-8 senior forward Crystal Kidd (10 points, 11 rebounds), 5-10 post Rebecca Mills (eight points, eight rebounds), 5-7 junior guard Nancy Tupper (13 points) and 5-5 junior point guard Holly Boone (four assists).
"I didn't lose but about one point per game; I've got everyone back," coach Randy Johnson said. "But depth could be a problem. We've got only eight people. "
\ GILES (1-20) is aiming for a .500 season after winning just once last season.
The Spartans have four starters back, making them one of the district's veteran teams. The returning starters are 5-8 senior forward Debbi Snidow (nine points per game), 5-7 junior point guard Heather Wilburn (10 points, five rebounds), 5-9 forward Heather Matlock and 5-10 post Tonika Saunders.
Other returnees are 5-8 senior forward Kelly Davis and 5-5 junior guard Kelly Williams.
From the junior varsity comes 5-11 sophomore post Gina Claytor. She has played on AAU teams and in the Commonwealth Games.
With Saunders and Claytor, Giles can be expected to have a strong inside game.
"We've got a goal of winning one for every one we lose," Giles coach John Hawlett said. "If we go 10-10, you never know where you might end up."
\ BLAND (1-18) could be in for another long season.
Three starters are back: 6-3 senior post Rachael French (10 points and 11 rebounds per game), 5-6 senior point guard Crystal King and 5-9 junior forward Jessica Turner. However, those three are the only members of the eight-girl squad with considerable game experience.
"We've got inexperience at key positions; a freshman could start," coach Kevin Johnson said. "We're going to be young and we have a low number of girls."
by CNB