THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 20, 1995 TAG: 9502200143
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Two weeks ago, most were ready to concede Kempsville's girls basketball team the state championship. The Chiefs were hammering opponents by an average of 32 points per game.
Then the foot slipped off the accelerator a little bit. The Chiefs' margin of victory in their last four games was a modest 15.8 points, and they even trailed Green Run and Tallwood in the second half.
Kempsville is 22-0 entering today's Beach District tournament opener against Cox at Ocean Lakes. But if the Chiefs have lost an edge in intimidation, coach Greg Dunn thinks they have profited as well by learning what a close game feels like.
``I'd be kind of disappointed if we didn't have any tight games,'' Dunn said. ``You want to go into the region tournament with some tight games under your belt.''
Kempsville's goal is to go beyond the region and stamp itself as one of the area's all-time great teams.
To do that they'll have to win the state championship, something only two other teams from South Hampton Roads have done. Deep Creek went 27-0 in sweeping to the 1982 title. Salem went 26-2 in scrambling back from a loss in the region to win the championship last year.
``An undefeated season would be icing on the cake,'' Dunn said.
The cake was mixed and already in the oven before the season when Dunn returned 14 players from a team that finished 20-3.
Kempsville's pregame warm-up shirts read: ``We're not conceited, We're convinced.''
``We don't just think we're good,'' junior guard Charlette Fayton said. ``We've proved we're good. We're not conceited about it, and we're not cocky. We're just sure.''
Added Dunn: ``They're definitely not conceited. They're nervous before every game. They feel the pressure. Confidence has been something we've struggled with.''
Kempsville has outscored its opponents by nearly 2-to-1 (77.4-39.9 points per game). The Chiefs are tall, fast, agile and good ballhandlers. They shoot better than 43 percent from the field.
The Chiefs employ a relentless fullcourt press that Dunn rarely calls off. Kempsville forces nearly 25 turnovers a game and averages six more rebounds than the competition.
Churchland coach Duke Conrad says that though the Chiefs have struggled recently, they're capable of winning the state championship.
``I think Kempsville has to do what they did early,'' he said. ``They have to focus on playing one game at a time. I can't see why they wouldn't have a good opportunity to win the state. They've proved they are the dominant team in the area.''
Senior center Carrie Johnson leads the Chiefs in scoring (16.5) and is second in rebounding at nearly eight per game.
``We have a deep bench,'' Johnson said. ``We have a lot of talent this year.
``I want my teammates to play. I know they've worked hard out there.''
Dunn has always believed in using several players, and his defensive style demands it.
``I've always enjoyed the defensive side of basketball, and because of my bench, I'm able to do a lot more,'' he said.
Whitney Richardson, who relieves Johnson off the bench, says that playing time isn't a concern.
``It's a privilege for me to be on this team,'' she said. ``I'm happy to go in after her.''
Richardson added that the Chiefs' success can't be measured by what they do on the court alone.
``We're all friends,'' she said. ``We get along so well because we work together. We know what each other is thinking.'' by CNB