THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412280174
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAN COOLEY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
UNDER NORMAL circumstances, first-year Oscar Smith Middle School girls basketball coach Bonnie Hudson would be taking over a program with excellent, and enviable, credentials.
The Tigers return a veteran lineup of five letter-winners from last year's championship team, and Oscar Smith is playing in better, more spacious, facilities.
But the road to a third straight city title will be paved with difficulties. Deep Creek, Great Bridge and Indian River, with five or more returning players each, will provide a stiff challenge for Oscar Smith.
And although Western Branch returns just two experienced players, most coaches have picked the Bruins to finish near the top because of the school's winning tradition.
The outlook:
CRESTWOOD
The Falcons won only one game last season and went 1-9, so coach Janet Devaney has her work cut out for her.
Only two players return for Crestwood - guard Kim Bell and forward Laura Myers. Devaney hopes the team's quickness and ability will work well together and will be enough to offset the team's inexperience and lack of size.
DEEP CREEK
The Hornets return six letter-winners, four forwards and two guards, the most of any team in the league. After a 4-6 season last year, Deep Creek is one of 1995's dark horses.
Coach Larry Reveal said his team should possess strong ballhandling skills and a solid inside game, and he expects the Hornets to be a good shooting and rebounding team.
Leading the way is forward-center Jamie Holland, one of the league's few 6-footers. April Ellerberger, Sandi Stone and Lakeila Whitaker also return at forward.
Sharika Robertson and Latoya Smith are the returning guards. Reveal said seventh-grade newcomers Jokina Daniels and Crystal Wood should have an immediate impact.
GREAT BRIDGE
Great Bridge finished 7-3 and tied with Western Branch for second in the CMSL last season and welcomes back four starters.
Denita Griffin and Shelley Winekin have experience at guard, and New Jersey transfer Adriane Shelton will add depth to the position. Forward Joy Gilmore and center Meredith Ruby also return.
With a veteran lineup, coach Micky Wheeler said the team will excel in both inside and outside scoring. Aside from Gilmore (5-10) and Ruby (5-8), the team lacks height, which could affect rebounding. Wheeler will try to offset this weakness with an aggressive pressure defense, in hopes of giving the Wildcats plenty of scoring chances.
INDIAN RIVER
With four returners from last year's fifth-place, 3-7 team, the Braves are another dark horse in the league. Guard Lavonne Cuffee, guard-forward Angel Kearney, center Lisa Kellihan and forward Sheree Stallings will provide Indian River with a experience.
Braves coach Sonya Anderson thinks her team's biggest strengths are outside shooting, especially from the forwards, and defense. Indian River should score many of its points off an aggressive full-court man-to-man press.
OSCAR SMITH
After winning the regular season and tournament titles the past two years, the Tigers are strong again with five returning letter-winners, including guards Hope Sinclair and Joetta Thorpe, and forwards Tiffany Cawell, Melissa Goode and Martine Swain.
Newcomers Danielle Toxey (guard) and forward-centers Cassandra Nichols, Shalica Green and Lesha Gallop also will see action.
With plenty of forwards and both Green (6-1) and Gallop (6-0) adding height, Hudson said Oscar Smith should be an exceptional rebounding team. Additionally, the guards are quick and excellent ballhandlers, so the Tigers will try to run an up-tempo game.
WESTERN BRANCH
Although the Bruins have but two returning players, coach Linda Pippin likes her team's chances of making a title run. Western Branch tied Great Bridge last year in CMSL standings and narrowly missed beating Oscar Smith in the tournament final.
Forward Natalie Parker (5-9) and 5-10 center Feliciann Butcher have the size to give the Bruins a strong inside game. Pippin said newcomers Tory Kelso (forward) and Cortney Brown (point guard) also have looked good in the preseason. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
LEFT: Coach Bonnie Hudson, left, has a veteran lineup returning and
will get help from newcomers such as guard Danielle Toxey.
ABOVE: Included among the returning letter-winners is guard Joetta
Thorpe.
ABOVE: Included among the returning letter-winners is guard Joetta
Thorpe.
LEFT: Coach Bonnie Hudson, left, has a veteran lineup returning and
will get help from newcomers such as guard Danielle Toxey.
by CNB