THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 14, 1995 TAG: 9503140433
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Their Group AAA state semifinal game isn't until Thursday, but look for the Kempsville Chiefs to have their game faces on all week.
The Chiefs, who take on Northern Region runner-up Robinson Thursday at 1 p.m. at Liberty's Vines Center in Lynchburg, are coming off an uncharacteristically sloppy performance in their quarterfinal victory over James River on Saturday.
According to Kempsville center Carrie Johnson, an eight-day layoff robbed the Chiefs of some of their spark. Kempsville will have been without a game for five days when it takes on Robinson, so the Chiefs will need to bring game-like intensity to this week's workouts, Johnson said.
``We really like playing games, but practices can get kind of repetitious,'' Johnson said. ``Now we know we really have to get down to business.''
SLOW START: Kempsville wasn't the only team affected by the break between the regional final and the state quarterfinal. Hampton didn't score until more than 6 1/2 minutes had been played in Saturday's game against Midlothian. Fortunately for the Lady Crabbers, neither did Midlothian. The teams combined for only six points in the first quarter.
Hampton never did get completely untracked offensively, but scored enough to pull out a 37-31 victory. Next up is James Madison High in the state semifinals Thursday following the Robinson-Kempsville game.
TEAM TO BEAT: There's no question who is the favorite this week. James Madison won state titles in 1991 and 1993 and has been nationally ranked by USA Today at some point in each of the past five seasons.
The Warhawks are currently ranked 16th by ``the nation's newspaper.''
In compiling a 28-1 record this season, the Warhawks have beaten opponents by nearly 50 points a game. They've won 20 in a row since their lone defeat to Bradley Central (Tenn.).
Guard Katie Smrcka-Duffy leads the way, averaging 32 points a game. She also has 106 3-pointers, sixth-best in state history. But Madison is far from a one-player show. Forwards Desrene Lincoln and Kirsten Robouts join Smrcka-Duffy as 1,000-point scorers for the Warhawks. Four players have hit more than 20 treys this season. The team has 205.
``They're the best team I've seen, by far,'' Robinson coach Don Trimmer said. ``They're capable of beating any team in the tournament by more than 30.''
Trimmer should know. The Warhawks pounded his Rams by 23 in the season opener and by 25 in the Northern Region final. Ironically, the Rams lost twice by more than 20 to Madison in 1990, then beat the Warhawks by more than 20 in the 1990 state final.
``We're hoping history repeats itself,'' Trimmer said.
BATTLE-TESTED: If experience counts, Robinson figures to be in good shape Thursday. The six Rams who'll get most of the minutes have combined to start more than 200 games in their careers.
In addition, four of the starters have been playing together in AAU competition for five years. The fifth starter, McLean High transfer Kate Van Holle, joined the AAU team two years ago.
Van Holle leads the Rams in scoring at 14.5 points per game. She's one of four Robinson players averaging double figures.
``I'd say our offensive balance and experience are our biggest strengths,'' Trimmer said.
Trimmer was at Churchland High Saturday to see the Kempsville-James River game and came away impressed with the Chiefs' quickness, particularly on the perimeter.
``We've been a hard team to press, but I'm not sure we've seen quickness like Kempsville's,'' he said.
``If we can handle their pressure and rebound the ball, we'll have a chance to win.'' by CNB