Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 16, 1995 TAG: 9511160016
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: NARROWS LENGTH: Medium
Lawrence, Timesland's assist leader with 10.9 per game, is the Green Wave's all-time career assist leader, a record that may never be broken according to Lawrence's coach, Todd Lusk.
"Melissa does things on the floor that you just can't teach," Lusk said. "She has incredible court vision and a real knack for getting people the ball where they can score with it. Her assist record will stand for a long time ...In fact, it may never be broken."
Lawrence is a member of a select breed of basketball player. Faced with the choice of scoring herself or setting up a Narrows teammate for an easy shot, Lawrence would rather tally the assist.
"I don't shoot the ball much," Lawrence said. "My job is more to get the ball to my teammates when they're open. It feels good to pass the ball rather than keep it for myself."
Lawrence's pass first-shoot later mentality helped lead Narrows to a school record 18 wins in 1995. At one point, the Green Wave ran off 15 wins in a row. To some, the success of the team was surprising, but to Lawrence it was expected.
"We did really well as a team this year," Lawrence said. "We knew coming into the season we had a chance to be a good team. We had a goal to win the district and go to the regionals for the first time in school history. Unfortunately we didn't get there."
Narrows fell one game short of its elusive regional bid when Grayson County defeated them 48-46 in the Mountain Empire District tournament semifinals. It was the second year in a row the Green Wave had finished second in the district's regular season, only to come up two points shy of a regional berth in the MED tournament.
"The Grayson County loss was a really tough loss for us," Lusk said. "Melissa had 13 points in that game and I don't even know how many assists she had because I've been too depressed to look at the stats. I just wish she could have gone to a regional game before her career here ended."
Lawrence and her teammates have done something, with or without a regional berth, that no previous Green Wave girl's basketball team has done - gained the support of the Narrows community.
"It makes you feel really good to look up in the stands and see 700 people for your games," Lawrence said. "It used to be nobody would come watch us play. Now we're bigger than football, and it just makes you proud to be a part of it.
"Hopefully, down the road the team will continue to get better and better and it will feel neat to know I played there when it all started."
According to Lusk, when Lawrence graduates from Narrows in the spring, she will leave behind more than just an untouchable assist record and cheering crowds. She will leave a legacy.
"Melissa is without a doubt the most likeable and most coachable kid that I have ever had," Lusk said. "She has set an example for all players that come after her to follow. I am going to remind my future players to strive to be like Melissa. She was a great team player and a great person. We are going to miss her very much."
by CNB