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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 16, 1995                   TAG: 9503030019
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BASKETBALL'S ALL IN FAMILY AS SENIOR LEADS SCORING

The two Dicksons come from a family that includes 15 children, so it's not surprising that, as one leaves, another is ready to come on the scene.

Abby Dickson, a 6-foot-1 senior center, wraps up her career this weekend in the Blue Ridge Conference tournament at North Cross.

``I'm trying to get my 1,000th point,'' she said late last week before scoring 33 in a final regular season game against Timberlake Christian. That left her needing 53 points with three games possible in the Blue Ridge Conference tournament.

Alex is a sophomore who was just brought up to the varsity for the second time this year. At the first of the year, Alex was a reserve on the varsity and was sent back to the junior varsity. In his first two games back, he pumped in 27 points, including 14 at Holy Cross when he was the Celtics' leading scorer.

Abby is putting a nice cap to her career. In the last five regular season games, she scored 127 points for a 25.4 average in the best streak of her high school career.

``I've been doing better. I hope to go to college in pre-law. I've been looking at Guilford,'' she said.

``Now, my shot goes in [the basket]. Before, I would have to keep rebounding and shooting to score. That's why my rebounding statistics are so high. I have to keep rebounding my own shot,'' said Abby, whose height makes her a dominant inside player in the Blue Ridge Conference.

``I can shoot jumpers, and I'm going to try a 3-point shot before the year is over. I've never tried one.''

Abby averages a little more than 11 rebounds per game, but that's always been second in Timesland statistics to William Fleming's Felicia Manns, who pulls in a little more than 14 per contest. ``It's my goal to beat Manns for No. 1,'' Abby said with a sigh.

Roanoke Catholic coach Robin Hungate is an assistant in the fall with William Byrd's strong Group AA program, so she can compare the public schools with the Blue Ridge Conference.

``I think Abby could play in Group AA, but she'd have to develop more as a player compared to what she is now,'' Hungate said. ``Abby has had it easy at Roanoke Catholic. You don't have to work. She's done real well the last few weeks, and she's developing a lot better.''

Alex Dickson is one of Timesland's finer young athletes. He has quickness, and Roanoke Catholic football coaches are ready to convince him to try out for the team next year. Right now, he's all basketball and track.

``He's as quick or quicker than Tony Joyce,'' said Catholic coach Roger Henderson, comparing Alex with the Celtics' top athlete who was the quarterback and All-Timesland defensive back on the school's Division II state championship squad for the Virginia Independent Schools.

``He played six or seven games early in the year and was out of control,'' Henderson said. ``So we put him on the junior varsity. He's worked, and he did great when we brought him back up.''

Alex knows he's getting better, though he still can't beat Abby when the two match up in a one-on-one game. ``I've gotten better by watching Abby and my older brother [Aaron, who played at Roanoke Catholic],'' Alex said.

The Dicksons are part of a large supportive family in which there are 15 children - 12 of them adopted by Richard and Dianne Dickson. The parents, who are white, have adopted both black and white children. The latest additions to the family include two children with spina bifida.

Abby can tick off the names of her brothers and sisters just like that, beginning with Amy, 24, and going through Alyssa, 6. All the children's names start with A.

Despite the temptation to tell about this remarkable family and its effect on these athletes, Dianne Dickson said that the special achievements of her kids don't come from the unique family unit.

``What makes them special is what happens to them because of their hard work, and that's what we focus on in our family,'' Dianne Dickson said. ``Abby is a star in our minds because she's Abby, and Alex because he's Alex, not because they're kids from a large biracial family.''

Abby said it's not tough being one of 15 children. ``It's a lot of fun. There's always someone to talk to.''