THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 18, 1994 TAG: 9412160255
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
THE GIRLS BASKETBALL season is just getting underway, but 15 of the 23 area Group AAA teams already have tasted defeat.
One of the all-winners is Churchland (3-0), currently ranked as the No. 2 team in South Hampton Roads behind Kempsville and a notch ahead of defending state champion Salem.
Are the Lady Truckers among the state title contenders?
With a we-will-play-them-one-game-at-a-time philosophy, Churchland coach Duke Conrad is well aware what it takes for a team to move into the post-season playoffs. For several years, he steered Wilson teams into the playoffs.
Now in his fifth year at the helm of the Truckers, Conrad may have his strongest team at Churchland. This appears to be a team that can exceed 20 wins.
Last year, the Truckers were 19-5, posting an 11-3 district record. Churchland bowed out of post-season play in the region semifinals.
The most immediate task for the Truckers will be trying to unseat Deep Creek as the No. 1 team in the Southeastern District. The Hornets have won the crown the past three years.
The attention-getters for Churchland are guard Kizzy Butler, forward Nicole Council and forward/-center Michele Jarman, the latter a 6-0 senior transfer from Great Bridge.
But Conrad calls his other guard, Summer Speidell, ``the glue that holds us together.'' Speidell is a fourth-year starter and was a second-team All-City selection the past season. An unselfish player, she's just as satisfied to pass off as to score herself.
Butler, already signed to a college grant by Norfolk State, had a 12.5-point scoring average last year with 5.5 assists and 6 steals per game. She was the city's outstanding player.
Speidell and Butler are both exceptional defensive players, too.
Council, a 5-7 junior who can play anywhere in the lineup, blossomed out as one of the area standouts last year. She averaged 5.1 assists, 3 steals and connected on 20 3-pointers in carrying a 12.9-scoring average.
Jarman was a mainstay on the Great Bridge team last year. She will provide Churchland with more inside punch than it had a year ago. Jarman fired in 17 points in Churchland's 70-38 romp over Maury Wednesday night.
Kim Elliott, a 5-7 sophomore forward, is a promising prospect. Sisters Courtney and Stacey Hundley also will contribute.
A newcomer who should add strength is 6-1 freshman center Shelly Singleton.
Conrad believes his team has good scoring punch but says sound defense will be a big factor in overall success.
Second-year Wilson coach Jenson Baker, previously the head coach at Cradock, is looking for his Presidents to move up the ladder in the district race.
Wilson was 5-14 last year, 3-11 in the district. The Presidents tied for seventh place.
``We're definitely a better team,'' said Baker. ``We have more experience and three starters back.''
Baker says he is looking ``for all 11 players to contribute. And they all will be getting an opportunity to do it every game. We don't have that one dominating player.''
Antoinette Debrough, a 5-6 senior forward, 5-8 senior forward/center Latoya Owens and Lavonya Blowe, a 5-8 senior guard, are the mainstays. ``Blowe will orchestrate the offense,'' said Baker.
Deshawna Faulks and Regina Cowans, whose absence was felt in an earlier loss by the Presidents, will have key roles.
Baker is looking for rebounding improvement this year and he's counting on Owens, 5-9 Aisha Williams and 5-7 newcomer Amanda Johnson.
Another young prospect is freshman guard Kim Silvers.
``To be a better team we must cut down on our turnovers and improve our free-throw shooting,'' said Baker. ``We will spend a lot of practice time at the foul line.''
Norcom coach Danny Hill lost nine players by graduation and is rebuilding around senior forward Jennifer Gainey. Hill rates the 5-8 Gainey ``a definite college prospect.''
``We have five players back from last year, but Jennifer is our only really experienced players. The others will have to step up.''
Norcom tied with Wilson for seventh last year and was 5-14 overall. There are five seniors on the 12-player squad.
Tajuana Folston, a junior who played well on the junior varsity, has moved in as the point guard. She's extremely quick.
The other starting guard is Tara White, a 5-5 senior who has been impressive in early games. She had 12 points in Tuesday's 3-point loss to Booker T. Washington.
Shante Taylor and Felicia Brown are the other starters. The 6-foot Brown, a junior, is being counted on as both a scorer and rebounder.
Other newcomers include 5-5 junior guard Kim Epps and 6-0 junior center Brandi Smith.
``We've shown much improvement since our game with Churchland,'' said Hill. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Seniors and starters for Churchland's Lady Truckers are, from left:
Michele Jarman, Summer Speidell and Kizzy Butler.
by CNB