Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 2, 1993 TAG: 9312020293
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Wanted:
Player (or players), who can make up for 35 of the 60 points the team averaged last year. Three starters from last year's Northwestern Region championship squad have graduated, leaving that 35-point hole.
Player (or players) who can step up and assume the role of leader for the team.
Actually, the Knights most likely have players on their team that can fill those openings. But that won't stop the district's competition from trying to run a young Cave Spring right out of the district lead for the first time in awhile.
"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."
Aimee Beightol, a 5-foot-4 junior guard, returns, as does Cheryl Rhodes, a 5-11 sophomore forward who averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds a game last year.
"We will be as quick as we were last year, and we're taller than we were last year," Long said. "But we're younger as far as inside players, and as far as varsity experience."
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."
Cave Spring's top competition should come from Pulaski County. The Cougars, who finished 13-9 overall and second in the district during the regular season, return four starters.
Jodie Hallett, a 5-foot-10 junior forward, returns after averaging 13 points and 8 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," head coach Rod 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.
William Fleming returns three starters from 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 Marquetta Randolph (21 ppg).
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. Combined, they averaged 12 points a 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 (16 ppg) was a first-team district selection last year.
"We have a lot of speed and quickness," Sheedy said. "We'll do a lot of running."
\ See microfilm for summaries.
by CNB