Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410060007
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD NEWS
DATELINE: SHAWSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Identical twins are often considered mirror images in their appearence, but the Burdettes have taken that to a new level.
They are literally mirror twins, meaning that they were formed facing each other, resulting in some of their features being opposite of each other. For example, Robin has two moles on the left side of her face, Sandy has two on the right.
Seniors Robin (the eldest by two minutes) and Sandy Burdette have confused Shawsville basketball opponents for years but now a third Burdette has been added to create more chaos for opposing teams. Beth Burdette, a freshman, is now starting alongside her sisters.
At any given moment, 60 percent of Shawsville's lineup consists of Burdette's. No big deal you say, only two of them are twins. Think again. Beth also appears to be a mirror image of her sisters.
"Sometimes people get mixed up [on which of the sisters are twins]," said Sandy.
A note to bamboozled opponents: the easiest way to tell the Burdettes apart is their height. Robin is the tallest of the twins, while Beth, the youngster, is slightly shorter. Sandy, who is the shortest of the three, must bear many taunts about her height.
"We joke about her height but she takes it as fun," said Robin. "I think she likes being short."
All kidding aside, being united on the same team is a dream come true for the sisters, who knew they would only have one crack at playing together. Robin and Sandy are both seniors.
"I always hoped Beth would make varsity so we could have the three Burdettes," said Robin. "I love playing with them."
"It's nice for all of us to start," said Beth. "We play so good together."
A sentiment Shawsville coach Tracy Poff echoes when talking about the girls who make up nearly 50 percent of his team.
"They have that sisterly insight, that sixth sense that sister have, particularly Robin and Beth," said Poff. "But when they are on the floor I don't see them as sisters. I associate them with being members of the team."
The girls' mother finds the situation stressful.
"You never know about injuries, whose playing well and whose not. The excitement really builds," said Grace Kelly, the girls' mother. "I kind of worried about them working together but the have pulled together. They complement each other real well."
Playing center, Robin leads the trio in scoring, averaging 12 points per game. Playing power forward, Beth scores 10 points per game and Sandy averages six.
At an age when many siblings are at each others throats, the Burdette twins seem to get along amazingly well off the court, and have brought Beth into the fold, involving her in their social outings despite the age difference.
"People force them to be rivals and are always comparing them," said Kelly. "But they are very supportive of each other."
Despite the amicable relationship the three share, they do have an occasional spat.
"Sandy goes a little crazy sometimes," said Robin, with a laugh. "She is definitely the fiery one."
Despite Robin's comments, none of the three seemed willing to divulge any information regarding their occasional family feuds, saying only that they do have differences of opinion.
"We fight, but it never lasts long at all," said Robin.
"Like any sisters we fight but we always make up," said Sandy.
And what says the mother who is left to regulate the three?
"They love hard and fight hard," said Kelly. "They have been closer than most sisters, but they go at it in extremes."
After the season ends, the Burdette trio will need to make adjustmentsespecially if the two twinschoose to attend different colleges. Robin has thought of attending school in Wyoming but Sandy sees the value of staying closer to home.
"I think we will go to Radford," said Sandy, who wants to be a nurse.
The departure of the twins will leave the biggest adjustment for Beth.
"It will be hard but it will work out," said Beth.
by CNB