THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 22, 1995 TAG: 9512220545
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Has Salem, off to its worst start in school history, finally righted its ship?
Sun Devils coach Larry Bowman seems to think so, but it took a 68-59 loss to Princess Anne last week to get the team going in the right direction.
Before meeting the Cavaliers, then ranked third behind Salem in the area top 10, the Sun Devils had only defeated Norview (0-4) while taking a beating from Holidaysburg and Altoona in a Pennsylvania tournament.
``I think it kind of woke us up,'' Bowman said. ``We realized the season was about to get away from us.''
The Sun Devils responded after the Princess Anne loss and a 1-3 start by handing Kempsville its first area loss in nearly two years last Friday night. Salem then drubbed Kellam 92-29 Tuesday. The Sun Devils scored more points in the first quarter (34) than the Knights did in the game.
``I think it's (the Princess Anne loss) going to have a positive effect on our season. We've finally put it together,'' Bowman said.
NO SUCH THING AS A FREE THROW: Don't give Maury's Shwante Snead any freebies. A trip to the line could cost dearly, as Cox learned two weeks ago.
The senior guard proved that she's one of the best free throw shooters around by sinking 24 of 34 attempts against the Falcons.
According to Claudia Dodson, a Virginia High School League official in charge of girls athletic records, Snead's 24 free throws could be the most ever sunk by a girl in a state regular-season game.
``We usually only keep the state tournament records,'' Dodson said. ``And the most in a state championship game is 13.''
Thirty-three is the national record; Snead's 24 ranks seventh.
SISTER ACT: Great Bridge coach Ro Moore has a secret weapon - the almost-psychic closeness of sisters in her starting lineup.
Senior forward-guard Lashelle Griffin and her sister, freshman Denita, are key Wildcats. Lashelle leads the team in scoring with 16.5 points per game and grabs seven rebounds and 3.5 steals. Denita, a point guard, leads the team in assists with four per game and chips in six points.
``They work well together,'' Moore said. ``Denita will hit you with a pass without anybody knowing it's coming. They seem to sense each other better, but they are not selfish. They pass to everyone equally. They compliment the team very well.''
WORST TO FIRST: Just two years ago, Princess Anne coach Darnell Dozier says, his team was the laughingstock of the area.
Dozier and his seniors, however, now relish the fact that they were once 0-22.
The Cavaliers, who have run their record to 5-0, are ranked No. 1 in South Hampton Roads for the first time in school history.
``We still haven't played our best basketball,'' Dozier said. ``We're in tip-top shape and up for the challenge.''
Princess Anne will get that challenge Thursday in the Green Run Christmas tournament when it takes on No. 3 Kempsville at 7:45 p.m.
``We're ready for them and we can say that with our heads high now,'' Dozier added. ``The way I see it, the only way we can lose is if we beat ourselves.'' MEMO: Staff writer Rea Farmer contributed to this report.
by CNB