THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 18, 1995 TAG: 9501180543
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Bayside coach Conrad Parker has been trying to get Kristy Bryant's game off the playground.
Although her street-ball moves bring flair and excitement to the Marlins' games, Parker told his star player that if she did things simply, she'd be more dangerous.
Parker's advice finally hit home last week and Bryant came through with the most productive week of her career, scoring 77 points in three games.
For that accomplishment, Bryant has been named The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger Star's female athlete of the week.
Tuesday night against then-No. 5 First Colonial, Bryant scored a school-record 42 points in a come-from-behind 67-56 victory over the visiting Patriots. She hit 6 of 7 attempts from 3-point territory and had six rebounds and four steals.
``I don't know what happened in that game,'' Bryant said. ``I was just pumped up and I wanted to win.''
With Bayside down by 11 going into the fourth, Bryant scored 19 points and sparked a 32-8 Bayside run for the victory.
When she saw the scorebook after the game, she said, ``I was shocked!''
So was Parker.
``I really thought she was around 30,'' he said. ``I had no idea whatsoever because hers came so quickly. She scored three 3-pointers in 22 seconds.
``I'm extremely proud of her and it's not because of basketball. I've watched her progress as a student and I've watched her progress as a young lady. I'm really more proud of that than the 42 points.''
Parker had even more to be proud of Friday night when she showed that her high scoring game wasn't a fluke.
Against Tallwood, the junior guard had 26 points and she chipped in nine rebounds, four assists and six steals.
``We were motivated that night,'' said Bryant, who got the Marlins off to a quick start with three treys to open the game. ``We knew we had to win it.''
But Saturday, the Marlins fell short. Princess Anne played a box-and-one defense on Bryant and held the area's fifth-leading scorer to just nine points in a 51-45 Bayside loss.
The Cavaliers were able to get away with that because Carolyn Zanelli, the Marlins' second-leading scorer, was out of town and missed the game.
Now that Bryant has felt the brunt of being the focus of her opponents' defense, she says she won't be held back again.
Said Parker: ``The other coaches respect her. If they don't, they better.'' by CNB