ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 7, 1996 TAG: 9611080025
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-16 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DALEVILLE
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
HAVING SECURED A SPOT at Virginia Tech next year, the Cavaliers' Sarah Hicks, the latest in her family to enter the basketball spotlight, can relax and enjoy her stellar senior season
Sarah Hicks was born to play basketball.
``There's a tradition of basketball in my family,'' said the 6-foot Lord Botetourt senior.
Her maternal grandparents, Eunice and Hank Odum, played in Abingdon. Hank Odum stands 6-5, so it's no surprise that Hicks grew to be one of Timesland's biggest players.
On her father Bob's side, uncle Billy Hicks is the new boys' coach at Cave Spring, where he starred before playing at Roanoke College.
``I never thought about playing any other sport,'' Sarah said. ``I fell in love with basketball the first time when I was 6 or 7 years old.''
So it shouldn't be any surprise that she's about to embark on a coaching career by helping her younger brother, Joshua, coach a rec league team. First, though, the Cavaliers and Hicks will try to repeat as Group AA champions.
Botetourt is the Blue Ridge District regular-season champion, and has qualified for next week's Region III tournament at Rustburg. The Cavaliers need only to win one game in the regional tournament to make a return trip to states.
Last year, it was more difficult. Lord Botetourt didn't win the district or regional tournament, but swept the states, beating William Byrd in the final.
Hicks was the scoring leader last season and wound up as the Timesland Player of the Year and All-Group AA. She attracted interest from a number of Division I schools, and last summer picked Virginia Tech.
Many people thought Hicks chose Tech to stay close to home. Her family follows her every move on the court. That wasn't the case.
``Tech had shown the most interest [in me]. They got in early and made me feel wanted,'' said Hicks.
Her early decision allowed Hicks to start fast, and she's been among the top scorers in Timesland all year.
``It took the stress off me. I could always play hard my senior year and not worry if I was injured or messed up,'' said Hicks.
Lord Botetourt coach David Wheat noticed a difference. His other star player, guard Sara Moore, didn't decide on a college until two weeks ago, when she chose Campbell.
``I don't have any evidence [proving] how important making an early decision is,'' Wheat said. ``But I could see Sara Moore had a lot of pressure the last few weeks. When she made her decision, the burden was lifted.''
After her decision, Moore scored a game-high 20 points to help the Cavaliers clinch a tie for the regular-season district title by beating Northside.
Hicks has been hampered by injury this season. In the first game against William Byrd, Hicks suffered a badly sprained ankle. She missed three games, still wears a brace, and still is not 100 percent.
``I think it affected her speed a little bit,'' Wheat said. ``In the open court, she seems to be hampered. It's a stiff brace. One of those you cinch up and it's tight. It's unnatural.''
Hicks suffered her injury when she went up for a rebound and came down on the foot of Byrd star and good friend Brandy Allen.
``The brace doesn't slow me down around the basket, but I'm just not as quick as I was at the beginning of the season,'' said Hicks.
There is an advantage to wearing the brace.
``Tech requires their players to tape their ankles and wear braces,'' Hicks said. ``So it's getting used to something I'll wear in college.''
Despite being an inside player, Hicks is a good 3-point shooter. She also handles the ball well, and will probably end up playing a shooting forward for Tech.
Byrd has been Hicks' nemesis, partly because it has players with height and plays an aggressive defense.
For instance, Hicks scored just six points in one game and 12 in another against the Terriers. In the Group AA title game, though, Hicks had 23 points in the Cavaliers' 43-37 victory.
``Just because we've been able to stop her doesn't mean we'll stop her the next time,'' said Byrd coach Richard Thrasher. ``She's a very talented player and causes a lot of problems for the defense. She plays inside and outside, and handles the ball very well.''
Hicks is averaging 19.4 points a game, down from 21.5 before the injury, although Botetourt's toughest games have come since she was hurt.
Hicks has come up big when needed. In the title-clinching game against Christiansburg last week, she rang up 26 points.
For all her success, Hicks keeps a level head. ``She's a poised young lady. Her basic character is so solid and it would have to be to handle her [celebrity] situation,'' Wheat said.
``I don't want to get the big head because if I do, I'll go down the drain and have to start over,'' Hicks said. ``So I work hard every day in practice. Scoring is not everything. I just want to go out and play my game. I just look to carry my team as far as I can.''
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: NHAT MEYER/Staff Lord Botetourt's Sarah Hicks takes theby CNBball in the second period of a recent Northside game. She scored 26
points in last week's title-clinching game against Christiansburg.
color.
BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER