THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 2, 1996 TAG: 9602020571
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER AND PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, coaches and athletes are eyeing district tournaments and potential regional tournament bids.
The Southeastern, Beach, Eastern and Peninsula districts each enter tournament play on Feb. 15. The regular-season champions and district tournament champions (or runner-up if the same team wins both) in each advance to the regional.
In the Southeastern District, Churchland (14-1, 9-0) is one game shy of locking up at least a share of the regular-season title. The Truckers carry a three-game lead over Western Branch (10-4, 7-3) and Oscar Smith (14-3, 6-3) with four games remaining. If they win two of those four, the Truckers will take the title.
Princess Anne (15-2, 10-1) leads the hotly-contested Beach District. Kempsville (15-2, 9-2) and Salem (10-5, 8-3) are challenging for first place. Princess Anne has lost to Kempsville twice, once in a non-district tournament game, and beaten Salem twice. Salem also lost to Tallwood, but has beaten Kempsville twice.
The Eastern District has been filled with upsets and close games. Maury, Booker T. Washington and Lake Taylor are deadlocked in the lead with 3-1 district records.
Defending champion Menchville, the only region's undefeated team at 16-0, tops the Peninsula District. Kecoughtan (14-3) and Bethel (12-4) are the leading challengers.
FAB FIVE: How's this for a starting lineup - Ocean Lakes coach Stephanie Gilmore at center. Lake Taylor coach Theresa Jones at power forward. Western Branch coach Kim Aston at guard. Oscar Smith coach Patty Walsh at guard and former Norfolk Academy coach Joanne Renn at small forward.
All five played at Old Dominion between 1973 and 1993. They combined for four NCAA appearances, two Colonial Athletic Association crowns, a National Women's Invitational Tournament championship and a 178-113 record. The former Lady Monarchs account for half of the female girls basketball coaches in South Hampton Roads. Aston, the Bruins' first-year head coach, pulls double duty at Cape Henry in the fall.
BUILDING BLOCKS: Two freshmen, one sophomore, one junior and one senior are the cornerstones of Wilson's building effort.
The Presidents have yet to win this season, but have seen marked improvement. Coach Jenson Baker finds strengths in each of his players. His daughter, Candace, and fellow freshman Lawshana Brown carry the offensive weight of the team. Amanda Johnson runs the offense and Regina Cowan and Diana Faulks provide on-court leadership.
``We have the pieces,'' Baker said. ``It's going to take this offseason. The girls have dedicated themselves. . . . We're going to the Eastern District next year and that will be just as tough.''
1,000 POINT CLUB: Maury senior guard Shwante Snead will be honored before Saturday's game against Cox for reaching 1,000 points in his career.
Snead, a two-time All-Tidewater performer, has averaged 16.9 points over her four years and this season is leading the Commodores with 18.8 points and 3.8 steals per game. by CNB