THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 28, 1996 TAG: 9602280526
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
After watching Michelle Garcia run the basketball court, one would never guess that the 5-foot-3 Salem guard is a freshman.
And she hopes to keep Menchville, which puts its 24-0 record on the line at 7:30 tonight at Churchland in an Eastern Region girls basketball semifinal against the Sun Devils (18-6), guessing for one more night.
In the other semifinal, Churchland (20-3), a 51-48 winner over Bethel in overtime, will host Kempsville (25-2) at 6 p.m.
Tonight's winners advance to Friday's 6 p.m. title game and advance to the state tournament.
Garcia plays beyond her ripe old age of 14. She confidently takes the ball to the hoop. Shoots 3-pointers with a defender in her face without hesitation. Makes crisp no-look passes that dazzle spectators as well as her teammates and coach.
``She's wise beyond her years on the basketball court,'' Salem coach Larry Bowman said. ``She has a natural, God-given talent. She's truly blessed.''
With Garcia, Salem has a triple threat. Especially from behind the 3-point arc.
Garcia has connected on 40 treys and averages 12 points a game. She's taken some pressure off 1995 Tidewater Player of the Year Misty Colebank.
The only thing she's lacking is the first-hand experience of the rivalry between the Monarchs and Sun Devils - something that Colebank, King, Bronwyn Blair, Antoinetta Gabriel and Angela Angeles remember from their sophomore season on the state championship team.
``It seems like every year we (draw) a Peninsula team,'' Bowman said. ``It was Menchville with Danielle Dawson and Misty Hart. Now it's Menchville again with Chalois Lias and Candice Edwards. They're all the kids we know from AAU and Misty and Kelly play against them in the summer.''
Bowman said that Garcia is aware of the players who will he sharing the court with her. Lias, a 6-1 forward was named the Peninsula District tournament's Most Valuable Player and averages 17 points and rebounds per game. Edwards, a veteran point guard, whom Garcia could defend along with Colebank, averages 20.4 points a game and is also known for her tenacious defense.
``I feel a little bit of pressure,'' Garcia admitted. ``But mainly if I feel like I need to talk about it, I can just go to the seniors. They've all been through this before.
``But I feel equal with all the players. I think anyone can take over a game.''
Even if she just so happens to be a freshman. by CNB