THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 30, 1995 TAG: 9511300533
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: High School Girls Basketball Preview
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 142 lines
There's no doubt that Kempsville is the team to beat again this year in the Beach District, and in South Hampton Roads for that matter. But the league's second-place spot and region berth is up for grabs. Salem, Princess Anne, Tallwood and Bayside will battle it out. First Colonial and Cox could throw a wrench in the race as the season progresses.
KEMPSVILLE
Coach: Greg Dunn (4th year 87-11)
Last Year: 29-1 overall, 18-0 district (won district, region and lost in state semifinals).
Impact players: Charlette Fayton, 5-8 senior guard; Kristen Cholewa, 5-9 senior forward; Toni Patillo, 5-8 junior guard; Erin Duckett, 5-7 junior guard; Lori Henn, 5-5 senior guard; Melissa Kristofak, 5-9 junior forward; Carrie Heath, 5-10 junior forward.
Newcomers to watch: Maria Sciortino, 5-7 sophomore guard; Rayven Williamson, 5-7 sophomore guard; Suzanne Elliot, 6-1 freshman post; Lydia Banks, 5-8 freshman forward.
Outlook: Dunn's juggernaut has four of five starters back. The Chiefs have improved last year's unyielding pressure defense and their quickness. Kempsville's only question lies in the paint. The Chiefs graduated top scorer Carrie Johnson as well as their second and third string posts.
SALEM
Coach: Larry Bowman
Last Year: 18-6 overall, 14-4 district.
Impact players: Misty Colebank, 5-11 senior guard; Kelly King, 5-11, senior guard/forward; Antoinetta Gabriel, 5-11 senior center; Jenny Harmon, 6-0 senior center/forward; Meaghan Johnson, 5-8 sophomore guard/forward; Amanda Zollicoffer, 6-0 sophomore center/ forward; Bronwyn Blair, 5-5 junior guard.
Newcomers to watch: Michelle Garcia, 5-5 freshman guard; Dwan Riddick 5-5 freshman guard; Amy Slagle, 5-10 junior guard/forward; Dana Hierholzer, 5-9 sophomore forward.
Outlook: Colebank, the Tidewater Player of the Year and a James Madison signee, and King are the Beach's most dangerous duo and should help the Sun Devils battle Kempsville for the league title. Harmon, Gabrielle and Zollicoffer must come through inside for Salem to challenge.
PRINCESS ANNE
Coach: Darnell Dozier (1st year)
Last Year: 15-9 overall, 11-7 district (tournament runner-up, lost in region quarterfinals).
Impact players: Rasheda Rogers, 5-8 senior forward; Suwanna Taylor, 5-9 junior guard.
Newcomers to watch: Okeshia Howard, freshman; Summer Gray, freshman.
Outlook: The Cavaliers are riding momentum from last year's district tournament upset over Salem and should be in the thick of the race again this year despite their youth. Rogers, moved to the frontcourt to help out with the rebounding, and Taylor, at the point, are the only returning regulars.
TALLWOOD
Coach: Andrea Warren (2nd year, 10-11)
Last year: 10-11 overall, 8-10 district.
Impact players: Tamara Valentine, 6-2 senior center; Heather Kinstler, 5-5 junior guard; Amy White, 5-10 sophomore guard; April Green, 5-11 junior forward; Katrina Hensley, 6-1 senior forward.
Newcomers to watch: DelJuanna Scott, 5-4 junior guard; Samantha Hallum, 5-9 senior forward.
Outlook: The Lions could have their most successful season with Valentine and Hensley both back and playing stronger than ever after knee surgery. Tallwood was the off-season surprise with a summer league championship victory over Salem.
BAYSIDE
Coach: Conrad Parker (55-94, 8th year)
Last Year: 13-11, 10-8 district.
Impact players: Dawn Bell, 5-4 senior guard; Tracey Berger, 5-6 senior forward; Christy Bryant, 5-4 senior guard; Latoya Jackson, 5-8 senior forward; Carolyn Zanelli, 6-6 senior guard.
Newcomers to watch: Aretha Williams, 5-10 junior center; Kelley VanSlycke, 6-2 junior center; Sharell Williams, 5-10 senior center; Kylie Williams, 5-4 junior guard.
Outlook: The Marlins could be the league darkhorse if four-year starters Bell and Zanelli step up. Bryant is a big factor on the perimeter and Berger will take care of the boards.
FIRST COLONIAL
Coach: Sandy Bartle (2nd year, 11-8)
Last year: 11-8 overall, 11-7 district.
Impact players: Katy Walters, 5-8 senior guard; Kaszia Campos, 5-6 junior guard; Alija Pittenger, 5-11 junior forward; Jodi Bierman, 5-6 junior guard; Christie Nichols, 5-9 junior forward.
Newcomers to watch: Avery Willis, 5-5 sophomore guard; Melissa Zitron, 6-0 junior forward; Hope Breckenridge, 5-8 junior guard.
Outlook: Walters is an excellent shooter and will be called upon to lead the Patriots as they improve. First Colonial must work on its ball control and tempo to challenge for a playoff spot.
COX
Coach: Claire LeBlanc (3rd year, 18-26)
Last year: 6-16 overall, 5-13 district.
Impact players: Shannon Drury, 5-6 senior guard; Katherine Dunford, 5-6 junior guard; Dee Taylor, 5-9 sophomore forward; Katie Kubic, 5-7 sophomore guard; Kim Iman, 5-3 senior guard.
Newcomers to watch: Tonya Laffkas, 5-9 senior forward; Katie Schlegal, 5-9 senior forward; Erin O'Boyle, 6-0 junior center/forward; Alison Foy, 5-11 junior center.
OUTLOOK: Playing a young squad last season will pay off for LeBlanc and the Falcons this season. They're making smarter decisions and are more balanced. The pressure is off Drury, who signed with the University of Miami.
GREEN RUN
Coach: Jim Grigsby (7th year)
Last year: 7-13 overall, 6-12 district.
Impact players: Amanda James, 5-5 senior guard; Tasha Morrow, 5-3 senior guard; Shannon Doyle, 5-3 junior guard; Shaakundla Davis, 5-3 junior guard; Dalchon Brown, 6-5 sophomore center.
Newcomers to watch: Claudia Watt, 5-7 senior guard/forward; Abran Wiggins, 5-8 senior forward; Candice Washington, 5-7 junior guard/forward; Michelle Cooke, 5-4 senior guard.
Outlook: The Stallions are young, but athletic. Grigsby says the key will be learning to play together.
KELLAM
Coach: Steve Strausbaugh (2nd, 4-16)
Last Year: 4-16 overall, 4-14 district.
Impact players: Camille Lawrence, 5-7 senior center; Shannon Banks, 5-9 junior forward; Hayley Maloney, 5-10 sophomore guard/forward; Ashleigh Brooks, 5-1 sophomore guard/forward.
Newcomers to watch: Elizabeth Howard, 5-2 junior guard; Tiffany Johnston, 5-10 sophomore center.
Outlook: The Knights took a blow with the graduation of Ann Marie Bowdoin, the area's top scorer. Lack of size has them in a bigger pinch. Sophomores Maloney and Brooks will guide Kellam through the rebuilding stage.
OCEAN LAKES
Coach: Stephanie Gilmore (2nd year, 3-18)
Last year: 3-18 overall, 3-15 district.
Impact players: McKeesha Tann, 5-7 junior guard/forward; Lakisha Thomas, 5-5 sophomore guard.
Newcomers to watch: Ebony Elliot, 5-8 freshman guard; Tiffany Valentine, 5-9 sophomore center/forward; Yolanda VanLier, 5-6 senior guard.
Outlook: The Dolphins are still trying to build their program. Gilmore says her squad is young, but hard working and team oriented. ILLUSTRATION: VIRGINIAN-PILOT FILE photo
Kempsville senior guard Charlette Fayton and teammates are aiming
for a state title.
by CNB