Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 2, 1993                   TAG: 9312020290
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ROANOKE CATHOLIC IS STILL TEAM TO BEAT

After 22 years, the North Cross coach has said sayonara to basketball and turned the reins over to Gaylyn Moore.

Satterwhite is doing it for a break. She's also the softball and volleyball coach for the Raiders.

"I found out in October that I'd be the coach," said Moore, who had no varsity coaching experience for the school until taking over the soccer program last spring. "I see us going to work hard and doing our best."

The Raiders didn't do very well last year, so Moore will have to rebuild. She'll have help with three returning starters plus some newcomers who will give the Raiders height.

Still, Roanoke Catholic is the team to beat among Roanoke private schools and in the Blue Ridge Conference. The Celtics, under new coach Robin Hungate last year, finished second to Lynchburg Christian Academy in the Blue Ridge Conference.

Catholic returns four starters plus its top reserves from a team that went 19-4. Hungate, now in her second year, has an ambitious schedule that starts this week with Group AAA power Cave Spring.

"I just want the kids to see what kind of basketball is [played] out there," said Hungate. "They're capable of playing that kind of ball, but a lot of them never get to see Group AA [that play in the fall] or AAA teams."

Catholic will again have to fight Lynchburg Christian for the crown. "We're still a young team, but we'll be better because of everything they've been through," said Hungate.

Though the Celtics have four starters back, there are only two seniors on the squad. One is leading scorer Jackie Hinman, but the way this team performs might be up to 6-foot-1 junior Abby Dickson, who averaged double figures in points and rebounds. Her height is rare for the Blue Ridge Conference.

Roanoke Valley Christian had a losing record overall last year against a tough schedule that included games against Roanoke Valley District squads. In the Blue Ridge District, the Eagles were competitive with a 9-4 mark.

RVC has only two returning starters and little height. So this might be a rebuilding season for veteran coach Bobby Dixon. \

See microfilm for summaries.