Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508280030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
With two state tournament teams welcoming back all their starters and four other squads that should be stronger, the Blue Ridge is, indeed, a formidable district.
William Byrd reached the Group AA semifinal round in 1994 despite finishing third in the district.
``We want to do better'' in the district, coach Richard Thrasher said of the Terriers' first priority. ``We played well at the end of the year and we hope it carries over.''
Byrd retains five starters, but one of them might give way to 6-foot-2 freshman center Stephanie Parnell. One who won't lose any playing time is a district co-player of the year, Cathy Smith (17.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game). The 5-8 senior plays like a 6-footer.
Also returning for the tall Terriers are 5-11 Kristi Dyer (8.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), 5-6 Kim Kendrick (6.8 ppg), 5-5 Kelli Runyon (6.3 ppg) and 6-0 sophomore Brandy Allen (8.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg).
Young guards Lara Nester and Sarah Moore will get a chance to see if they can help the Terriers improve their outside shooting.
Salem won the regular-season and tournament titles in the Blue Ridge and welcomes back six players who started at least one game last year on the way to the state tournament. Shellie Johnson (17.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg), a 5-8 guard, shared player of the year honors with Byrd's Smith. The district's top newcomer had to be 5-11 Sarah Palmer (12.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg), who was only a freshman.
The Spartans don't have a lot of height, but they have quickness and shooting ability.
``Shellie has improved her range in shooting. She's shooting more off the pass instead of putting the ball on the floor,'' said Salem coach Dee Wright. ``She shot closer to the basket last year because she always put the ball on the floor, but I look for her to hit from the outside this year.''
Palmer also should be better, but she might be under more pressure now that other teams know about her. ``Her defense has picked up and she's still got a nice shooting touch,'' Wright said.
The Spartans' other returning starters are 5-7 Angie Bryson (5.0 ppg), 5-4 Mandy Williams (5.0 ppg), 5-7 Marilyn Huang (7.0 ppg) and 5-8 Tina Slate (8.5 ppg).
Lord Botetourt has two of Timesland's finest young players in 6-0 Sarah Hicks (15.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and 5-8 guard Sara Moore (14.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg), who were Sizzlin' Sophomores last year.
The Cavaliers are hurting, though, with 5-9 Aimee Bird recovering from a broken finger. Bird's injury forces 5-8 Marisa Michalski (5.8 ppg) back to a wing.
``Hicks has grown about an inch and had a good shooting camp,'' said Cavaliers coach David Wheat. ``Moore might play at two-guard or even shooting forward.''
Alleghany also has four starters back, led by 5-8 Natasha Chapman (13.4 ppg), 5-6 Katie Craft (11.9 ppg), 5-10 Melissa Page (8.0 ppg) and 5-8 guard April Cook (5.0 ppg) - all juniors.
``We'll be young again for eight or nine games, but after that I wouldn't consider us young,'' said Mountaineers coach Danny Keene.
Northside will be led by 5-71/2 Amy Heath (7.3 ppg, 104 rebounds), and 5-7 Rose Hopkins (4.0 ppg). Coach Marilyn Bussey's Vikings must hope 6-1 Lindsay Louthian and 6-0 sophomore Crystal Barrett come through if they are to improve on a 7-13 record in '94.
Rockbridge County was winless in '94, but second-year coach Melissa Fretwell is taking all the right steps to rebuild the program. Tonia Clemens (7.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg), a 6-0 post player, is the top returning scorer. She joins 5-10 guard Tasha Miles (4.1 ppg). The Wildcats also have 6-1 freshman Kate Ides, who might be a future standout.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1, William Byrd; 2, Salem; 3, Lord Botetourt; 4, Alleghany; 5, Northside; 6, Rockbridge County.
by CNB