Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 23, 1993 TAG: 9309220341
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Mary Thorn has been involved in more big-game situations than Teddy Roosevelt on an African safari.
Before this, her senior year, the Blacksburg point guard has played in a national AAU basketball tournament, two state championship games, two Region IV finals and two New River District regular-season playoffs.
With a Thorn on its side, Blacksburg always has a shot.
"She can step up her game when we're in a big game," said Mickey McGuigan, Blacksburg's coach.
Whereas Roosevelt had his big-game victims stuffed and mounted for display, Thorn settles for the championship banners that adorn the Blacksburg gymnasium walls, such as the Group AA state banner she helped put up last year.
"Every year since I was in the ninth grade," Thorn said, "Mickey [all Blacksburg players call McGuigan by his first name] points up to the wall and asks, `Do you want to put a banner up there?' "
Although there will be no repeat of last year's 27-0 record (Blacksburg lost its first game of the season to Lord Botetourt 54-52), 1993 could be another banner year for the Indians, Timesland's third-ranked team, and Thorn, a three-year starter.
After five games, the 5-foot-6 floor leader was averaging 13 points and five assists per game while shooting 54 percent on field-goal attempts and 50 percent from 3-point range. She plays her best when the game is on the line.
Against Floyd County three weeks ago, she sank two fourth-quarter 3-pointers to rally the Indians from an eight-point deficit, sent the game into overtime with a 12-foot follow shot at the buzzer, then buried the Buffaloes with another 3-pointer in overtime.
She finished with 17 points in that 60-58 victory for bragging rights between the New River Valley's two best teams.
"That's the most fun I've ever had in a game," Thorn said. "That was real basketball atmosphere."
Reasons for Thorn's big-game toughness can be traced to 1990, when she made the varsity as a freshman and was used as practice fodder for point guard Yolanda Ervin, who now plays at Central Connecticut State.
"I was so afraid of Yolanda taking the ball away from me as a freshman," Thorn said. "Playing against her was the best thing I could ever have done."
McGuigan remembered Thorn leaving practice "in tears probably a dozen times; Yolanda was dogging her defensively."
Thorn improved as that season went along, and she had five points in a state championship loss to New River District rival Radford.
Rarely now does Thorn leave the gym disappointed. The hazing by Ervin has paid off, with Thorn having learned to deal with quicker opponents.
"Every point guard I play against is quicker than me," Thorn said. "I have to use smarts to get myself into proper position."
Now, she's trying to pass those smarts to younger players like Meadow Overstreet, a freshman who is getting the same schooling that Thorn got.
"Basically, Mary can do to Meadow what Yolanda used to do to Mary," said McGuigan.
It's almost as bad as what Thorn does to opposing defenses, such as shredding them with passes that McGuigan can only describe as "unbelievable."
"I'd love to have 30 assists in a game if I could," Thorn said. "It's fun to see everyone hustling down to get those two points."
If Blacksburg is to get back to state play, getting her teammates involved can't be a mere passing fancy. The Indians are making up for the losses of Suzanne Moore and Katie Ollendick with steady contributions from Lisa Price, Meredith Braine and Abigail Murrmann.
"Last year, we had three people in double-figures," Thorn said. "This year, we'll probably have four."
After this year, during which she also will play on a volleyball team that has a state title in its sights, she hopes to play college basketball at the mid-Division I level. She has accepted home visits from Radford, James Madison, East Carolina, Winthrop and Maryland-Baltimore County.
"That's been my dream," Thorn said. "All I've wanted to do is play basketball."
by CNB