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

DATE: THURSDAY, November 23, 1995                   TAG: 9511240017
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-5   EDITION: HOLIDAY 
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD                                LENGTH: Medium

FLOYD COUNTY BASKETBALL IS A CANTRELL FAMILY AFFAIR

The Buffaloes girl's basketball team is coached by Alan Cantrell, statistics are kept by his wife, Gayle Cantrell, and their daughter, Melissa Cantrell, is the leading scorer and three-point shooter on the two-time defending Group A championship Floyd County team.

"It's been a really enjoyable situation for all of us," Alan Cantrell said. "We get the chance to be together a lot because we are all involved in some way with the team. It has helped to keep us very close as a family.

"We've been very fortunate to have the chance to be together. With my coaching and her playing, it would be difficult to be together if we weren't at the same school."

It's the closeness that her father spoke of that makes playing for Floyd County special for Melissa Cantrell.

"I love having my father as my coach," Melissa Cantrell said. "He's been my coach for a while now, and maybe I've gotten a little spoiled because it's nice to have him as my coach. I wish he could be my coach in college."

The situation between a coach and player can at times become stressful and difficult. Factor in the added pressure of a father-daughter relationship, and one can appreciate the understanding that's developed between Alan and Melissa.

"Being a coach's child and being on a team that your father coaches is a lot of pressure to put on a child," Alan Cantrell said. "It's hard at times because you don't want it to appear as if there's any favoritism there on my part towards Melissa. But she's handled the situation very well."

Melissa Cantrell has done more than just handle the role of a coach's daughter - she has thrived on it. Cantrell has averaged a team-high 14.1 points per game this season and currently ranks as Timesland's top 3-point shooter, converting 42.9 percent of her attempts.

Her consistent play has been one of the keys to the Buffaloes' 20-5 record as the team pursues its third consecutive state title. But according to Melissa Cantrell, statistics are secondary to the team's first goal - winning the state title.

"No one on this team is really concerned with, or even thinks about, their stats," Cantrell said. "We believe that from the first player on down to the 13th, no one is better than anyone else. We believe that everyone can do well and step up when we need it."

Whether or not Floyd County captures the 1995 state title, this season will be Melissa Cantrell's final one as a Buffalo. It's a realization that Alan Cantrell is just coming to terms with.

"It's hasn't really hit me yet that this is Melissa's last season here," Alan Cantrell said. "Win or lose, this is it. I just have to keep reminding myself of how fortunate I've been to have her as a player.

"One of my favorite moments involving Melissa came after our first state title [1993]. One of the television stations was interviewing Melissa and she said she wanted to win the game so that she could give me my first state title. I was just excited that she got to be a part of it. It was a special moment for both of us."