Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 1, 1993 TAG: 9312010083
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He started four sophomores on a team that finished 13-9 overall, second in the district in the regular season, but was upset in the district semifinals by William Fleming.
The Cougars didn't advance to the regional tournament, but Reedy said he still felt good about the decision.
"I'm sure there were questions out there," he said. "But I feel good about what I did, and I think it'll pay off for us this year."
Jodie Hallett, a 5-foot-10 junior forward, returns after averaging 13 points and eight rebounds per game last year. She was named first-team Roanoke Valley District. Other starters returning are 6-2 junior center Kim Cruise (9 ppg, 9 rpg), 5-6 junior guard Carrie McConnell (9 ppg), and 5-8 junior guard Kara Buckner.
"I think we're going to have the most balanced team we've had here in recent years," Reedy said. "We can put five or six players on the floor who can hit double digits. We can have a leading scorer each night."
One concern Reedy does have, though, is depth. After the first six or seven players, he said, the experience drops off.
"These girls bit the bullet last year, and made some sophomore mistakes," he said. "But they played in the AAU nationals this summer, and kept busy. We hope we're looking at a good year."
The team the Cougars will be trying to catch? None other than CAVE SPRING, winners of six consecutive district tournament titles. The Knights were 25-4 last year and won the Northwestern Region, but return only two starters: 5-4 junior guard Aimee Beightol, and 5-11 sophomore forward Cheryl Rhodes.
"My biggest concern is the type of players who are going to step up at crunch time and give leadership," said head coach Linda Long. "We expect a lot from our kids. In the past, they've been able to step and assume that."
Long doesn't think her team will be affected by the pressure of defending the district title yet another year.
"There probably is some pressure on us," she said. "But we've been able to handle that in the past."
\ WILLIAM FLEMING returns three starters to last year's squad that finished 13-8 overall and was second in the district tournament. But the Colonels must replace second-team all state selection Marqueetta Randolph, who averaged 21 points a game last year. That won't be easy.
Roshida Abdul-Jabaar, a 5-7 senior guard, 5-5 senior guard Ashaki Johnson, and 6-1 junior center Felecia Manns are the returning starters. They averaged a combined 12 points per game last year.
"We've just got to pick up some of the scoring we've lost," said Colonels head coach Roland Lovelace. "And we're probably going to have a lack of depth after the first five. But we've been working hard, and we've been hustling hard. I always expect a lot of hustle."
\ FRANKLIN COUNTY has three starters back this year, and first-year coach Deborah Crockett couldn't be happier.
"I think we look real promising," Crockett said of the team that finished 10-9 overall and fourth in the district last year. "We're not real big, but we can run. We're gonna press, too. It'll be a run and gun type game. It'll be under control, though. We're going to take good shots."
Patty Campbell, a 6-1 junior forward, should be tough inside, and Crockett said 5-7 junior guard Sandy Hudson is one of the quickest guards in the area.
\ PATRICK HENRY returns everybody from last year's 1-20 team that finished 0-12 in the district. Last year, four of the top six players were underclassmen. Still, having all her starters back has to make coach Patricia Sheedy feel a little bit better about this season.
"They're so much more confident," Sheedy said of her players. "They'll be a lot more confident."
Senior 5-7 guard/forward Elisha Jones was a first-team district selection last year. She averaged 16 points per game.
"We have a lot of speed and quickness," Sheedy said. "We'll do a lot of running."
by CNB