THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 26, 1996 TAG: 9602260142
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Long : 123 lines
It was a choice Courtney Hundley hoped she wouldn't have to make, but it came down to this for the Churchland senior: 1) remain with the Truckers' girls basketball team through the postseason, or 2) go to Guyana, South America, as part of a humanitarian mission.
The team co-captain, who battled three years to earn a starting spot on the basketball team, chose Guyana.
Not the exciting tropics, but a place where only the rich have hot water, where medical needs are met by an annual pilgrimage by an American medical team and where you will assist doctors in facilities with no electricity and hand out books to children with no schools.
``It was really tough,'' Hundley said. ``It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I just sat down and thought about it and decided I wanted the chance to help people. How can you turn down an opportunity like that?''
And so, if Churchland advances past tonight's first round of the Eastern Region tournament - the Truckers play Bethel at 7 p.m. - it will do so without Hundley.
``There were so mixed emotions (from the team),'' coach Duke Conrad said. ``Her teammates were a little disappointed. They understand what everybody's role is and they know how important she is to our success. Once it sank in, they wanted her to do everything in her power to make sure we got to state.''
When she first submitted her essay through InterAct - a student community work group - on why she would like to make a humanitarian trek to Guyana, Hundley was selected a first alternate. The sponsor professor, Christopher Newport University's Dr. Jim Hines, expanded the inaugural student group to four.
``We had to list the qualities that we thought made us good to go,'' Hundley said. ``I just put InterAct because I'm always trying to motivate people to do things. I'm always ready to go out there and help. I wrote about that and how I thought it would be a good experience to go over there where they don't have anything.''
The decision would have been an easy one except for one thing - the group is scheduled to depart on Wednesday.
That's the day the Truckers are slated to play in the second round of the Eastern Region, if they advance that far.
``I remember checking the date and thinking, `Oh no, that would be during the regional tournament,' '' Hundley's mother, Marian, said. ``That was another reason for me to worry.''
After sitting on the sidelines most of last year, Hundley has evolved into a big contributor to the Truckers' mad-dog defensive style.
The 5-foot-6 guard's newfound level of success made her decision extremely difficult. But she opted to help others instead of helping herself.
``I came in and told coach and he was kind of iffy about it, but he told me not to give up a chance like that,'' she said. ``I was really excited and thought, `If I get the chance, I'm going.' But then we were winning more and I felt more important.
``Last year, I didn't start, I didn't do anything really. I got in for a couple of minutes on defense. But this year, me being a captain, I felt more important and knew I was contributing more on defense and all.''
So Hundley had some second thoughts. But she endured the pressure to stay and the pressure to go and made her decision.
``Everybody was like, `You're going to Guyana? What?' '' Hundley said. ``A couple of people said they couldn't believe I was going to leave my team like that. But they've got to realize, if they got the chance to go to South America and help people . . . I think they'd go.''
Her parents, Don and Marian, shared Courtney's agony over the decision. Marian said she listened when Courtney first announced the contest and turned the essay, but was not overly concerned about any potential choices. When Courtney was named first alternate, Marian looked up the dates and felt a twinge of worry.
``I remember checking the date and thinking, `Oh no, that would be during the regional tournament,''' she said. ``That was another reason for me to worry.''
When Courtney received the letter saying the two alternates would also make the trip, her family's concerns escalated.
``Her chaperon, Dr. Hines, brought over some pictures,'' Marian Hundley said. ``He has been over there several times and thought we would be interested. That kind of made us more excited. The key for me was, he sort of summed it up by saying that people who went came back changed and have a better appreciation of the things we have. I thought that was worthwhile.''
Marion went to bed elated. She woke up worried.
``It's really been a mixed emotion for all of us because of the timing,'' she said. ``I've kind of kept my fingers crossed hoping that something would happen to delay the trip. Of course, that's not going to happen. But we never thought that she should not go.''
Neither did her coach or teammates. Conrad told her it was a difficult life decision, but to think of herself first.
``I told her that on the one hand she had the chance to make the state playoffs for the first time ever,'' Conrad said. ``Or if we lose (tonight) it's an opportunity she'll have missed forever. She'll be sitting there wishing she had gone.''
Hundley had toyed with the idea of trying to leave a day later, but that would entail a cross-continental flight alone.
``I know (tonight) I'm going to cry,'' Hundley said.``Just the opportunity to get to state, I'd be proud of that. . . . But the chance to go help other people, I think it would be worth it.''
It's an ironic twist that there will be a Hundley out there if the Truckers play Wednesday - Courtney's younger sister Stacey, who has averaged 7.0 points a game in her sophomore season, to Courtney's 4.0. The two have shared athletics since Courtney was 6. They also play softball and run track together at Churchland.
``Last year we got on each other's nerves real easily,'' Courtney Hundley said.``If she did something wrong, I'm the big sister, I'd say, `What are you doing?' Now that she's a starter and she's a real good points scorer on the team, I look at her as a little sister and want her to do better. She's going to be better than me next year. It's fun now.''
The thought of her sister may be playing for the state title while she is handing out books makes Hundley look wistful, but proud. She wishes her team luck and quickly points out that she is opting for more than an exotic vacation.
``You can't wear sandals, can't wear shorts, because they're really conservative down there,'' Hundley said. ``I thought I might get a tan. Now it's maybe part of my arms and my face will be red. People will think something has happened to me.''
Perhaps something already has. ILLUSTRATION: GARY C. KNAPP
Courtney Hundley helped the Churchland girls reach region play. Now
she's going to help Guyanans to get medical care and books.
by CNB