Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993 TAG: 9309020233
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
With most of the team back - and a Group AA state championship to defend - Blacksburg High School will enter this girls' basketball season a little differently than it did a year ago.
"Last year, we were kind of the underdog," said Abigail "Tree" Murrmann, the Indians' 6-foot-1 senior center. "Instead of asking us whether other teams could beat us, we were asked if we could beat other teams."
Now the Indians can't sneak up on anybody, either in the New River District or anywhere else. Becoming the first unbeaten state champion in five years can have that effect. But that has had a positive impact on the preseason preparations.
"It helps us knowing that people are going harder after us," said Meredith "Shrub" Braine, a 5-11 senior forward. "It makes us work harder. And the harder the practice, the more determination we have."
The Blacksburg team working to defend the title will not be the same Blacksburg team that went 27-0 and won the title last December. Two starters - Suzanne Moore and Katie Ollendick - graduated. Moore, a 5-4 guard, led the team in scoring with 13.2 points per game and was one of the best 3-point shooters in Timesland. Ollendick, a 5-10 post player, averaged 11.2 points and 8.3 rebounds and was selected to the all-state first team.
This year, the Indians will have their guards drive more and take advantage of size and speed matchups.
"People ask about the defense; it's a lot faster, a lot quicker," said 5-6 senior point-guard Mary Thorn, who has been on the varsity since her freshman season. "Another thing that might surprise people is the offense. Last year, we had three people who scored [averaged] in double-figures. This year, we have five people who can score 10 points a game."
Thorn knows about the Indians' offense. She was third in the team in scoring at 11.1 points per game and was just as effective as Moore from the outside. Thorn was second in Timesland in dishing out assists with 6.8 per game.
The offense also will be bolstered by the development of returning starters Braine (7.2 points per game) and Murrmann (4.0) and last year's reserves.
Of course, how well the Indians do also will be determined by their performance when they don't have the ball.
"Last year, we averaged allowing 32 points per game and scoring 62 points," said coach Mickey McGuigan, who is entering his fifth season. "I realize that the average [scoring] differential won't be that much this year. But our first goal is to keep opponents at about the same scoring level - 30 points per game. I feel like we can score more than 30 points per game."
Three players are expected to battle for the remaining two spots in the starting lineup. They are 5-9 junior forward Lisa Price (5.1 ppg), 5-6 senior guard Kelly Aldridge (1.0 ppg) and 5-9 senior forward Amy Mathena (3.1 ppg).
The front-court reserves will be two seniors: 5-11 post Amy Worley (3.2 ppg) and 5-8 forward/center Heather Boardman (1.8 ppg).
Also back is 5-6 junior guard Billie Gutherie (1.4 ppg).
The rest of the Indians' bench will come from the junior varsity or eighth-grade teams: 5-6 junior guard Kristen Boling; 5-10 junior post Filiz Esem; 5-4 sophomore guard April Rogers; and 5-5 freshman point guard Meadow Overstreet.
To defend its state title, Blacksburg first must get through the New River District. That is an important first step because four of the past five and seven of the past eleven Group AA state champions have come from the New River District.
The district's coaches expect the Indians to accomplish that first step. Blacksburg was a unanimous pick to win a third straight district title. All four coaches also picked Christiansburg to finish second. Radford and Carroll County are thought to be a toss-up for third, with maybe a slight edge to Radford.
Blacksburg also begins the season the No. 3-ranked team in Timesland, just behind Lord Botetourt and Bassett.
\ CHRISTIANSBURG (10-11) is poised to make a move toward the top of the district under new head coach Danny Knott. And the Demons will be moving differently on the court as well.
"Our style of play is going to be a little bit more uptempo," said Knott. "I'm not satisfied with dribbling the ball upcourt, calling the play and running it. And we're going to play a little more pressure defense.
"We're going to try to bring a little more excitement to the game. And by bringing in the uptempo game, it's going to be a little bit more fun for the girls."
The Demons' returnees are led by two seniors who have been on the varsity since their freshman season: 6-0 post Rebecca McNeil (15.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game) and 5-8 guard Lori Wilson (4.8 assists).
Also back are three others who saw a lot of action last season: part-time starters Carrie Simmons, a 5-8 senior guard, and Maureen Jackson, a 5-11 junior forward, as well as one key reserve, 5-6 senior guard Jennifer Hawley.
Six players are up from the junior varsity: Pam Jones, a 5-10 post; Stephaine Reynolds, a 5-7 guard; Stephanie Bishop, a 5-5 guard; Allison Amos, a 5-7 guard; Karen Cox, a 5-9 guard; and Crystal Moles, a 6-0 post. Moles is a sophomore; the rest are juniors.
Also on the squad is junior Tamia McNeil, a 5-9 post/forward who has not played basketball at Christiansburg.
The Demons' first two games - against Timesland's No. 1-ranked team, Lord Botetourt, and traditional power Salem - could be indications of things to come. If his team survives and stays with its new uptempo style, Knott feels his first year with the Demons will turn out well.
\ RADFORD (12-11) also will look to control the pace of the game, but it will be in the other direction for the Bobcats.
"If we get into a running game, the scores are going to be awfully lopsided," sixth-year coach Brenda King said. "But if we can dictate the tempo, we can be in most ballgames."
Two starters return for their senior season, 5-8 forward Cathy Richardson (8.5 points and 4.5 assists per game) and 5-4 point-guard Jenny Bishop (4.2 assists).
Also back are post Jenny Kopf, a 5-8 senior; post Shannon Bragg, a 5-11 junior; forward Melissa Carden, a 5-9 junior; and guard Crystal Hubbard, a 5-7 sophomore. Bragg was a part-time starter last season; she and Carden are battling for starting jobs.
Moving up from the junior varsity are junior Brooke Lawson, a 5-9 post, and junior Monica Barnett, a 5-5 guard. Up from the eighth-grade team is freshman Charliee Taylor, a 5-4 guard with the potential to become a big scorer.
Radford hasn't missed the Region IV tournament since 1985. To keep that streak alive, King has decided to focus on district opponents Christiansburg and Carroll County in the hopes of gaining the district's second regional berth.
\ CARROLL COUNTY (3-18) hasn't won a district game in three years, but new coach Harold Mayo feels the streak is about to end.
"We've got depth - we're two deep at every position - and experience," Mayo said. "We want to be competitive in the New River District. And we want to win at least half of our games this year."
The Cavaliers have 14 players, nine of whom played last year. Heading the list of returnees are four seniors who started last year: Gina Hill, a 5-3 guard; Sheila Bunn, a 5-7 forward; Paula Nester, a 5-5 forward; and Joanie Combs, a 5-6 guard/forward.
Others back are Sarah Puckett, a 5-4 guard; Darlene Hill, a 5-4 forward; Gretchen Gravley, a 5-8 center; Tonda Manning, a 5-8 center; and Cassandra Jones, a 5-3 guard. Puckett is a junior; the others are seniors.
Four players are up from the junior varsity: sophomore Denean Jessep, a 5-8 center; sophomore Jennifer Watkins, a 5-6 forward; junior Marie Martin, a 5-10 forward; and junior Aby Johnson, a 5-7 forward. Also on the squad is senior Sandy Jones, a 5-6 forward, who didn't play last year.
Whether Carroll County escapes the New River District basement or not will depend on whether it can use its uptempo offense and pressure defense to overcome a lack of height (no returning player is taller than 5-8) and the lack of a consistent scorer.
by CNB