THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603010215
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
WHEN SALEM RETURNS to the girls basketball state tournament this week, it won't be anything new for the Sun Devils.
Four players - Misty Colebank, Bronwyn Blair, Jenny Harmon and Amanda Zollicoffer - will be headed to the big dance for the third straight season.
Each earned a trip with the softball team last spring and then started basketball practice a week late while battling through the playoffs with the volleyball team.
Head basketball coach Larry Bowman, who also coaches the softball team, said the Sun Devils success on the court is taking a toll on the diamond.
``Five softball starters are on the basketball team,'' he said. ``We're supposed to be in a Jamboree at Bayside on March 9. But you won't see the same Salem team there.''
Instead, seven cross-over players will be battling with a Central Region finalist that day on the road to the state championship.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER: Before they were ever sparkles in their fathers' eyes, Melissa Kristofak's dad, Wendell, and Kristin Cholewa's dad, Carl, were sharp shooters for Norfolk Catholic.
Wendell averaged more than 20 points a game and Carl, according to Kempsville coach Greg Dunn, was known for his passing and tenacious defense, traits that have been passed along to Kristin and Blaire, a freshman.
Melissa, a 5-9 junior, has mastered her father's shot and is one of the Chiefs' top threats from beyond the 3-point line.
HARMONY AND BLISS: Bowman says the Salem future is bright and all won't be lost when the Sun Devils graduate Misty Colebank and Kelley King.
The Sun Devils have another dynamic duo ready to take over.
``Jenny Harmon and Michelle Garcia are the next Misty and Kelley,'' Bowman said. ``They've made a tremendous impact already.''
Harmon, a lanky 6-foot sophomore center, has a nice touch from the perimeter and can bang in the paint.
She's shooting better than 50 percent from the floor, averages 7.5 rebounds per game and has 19 blocked shots in 25 games.
``She's been a real surprise in the way she's elevated her game,'' Bowman said.
Garcia, a 5-3 freshman, is just as impressive with 41 3-pointers, for nearly two a game. She's averaging 12 points and 3.5 assists and steals.
HAIL TO THE CHIEFS: Kempsville has earned the right to boast one of the most successful girls hoops programs around.
The seniors have posted a 96-9 record going into Friday's Eastern Region championship against Salem.
Seven of those losses have been to teams that have qualified for the region semifinals. Three have come to eventual state champions and this season, only the Sun Devils have ousted the Chiefs in regular season play. And in the past two seasons, Kempsville has handed a pair of losses to state champions Salem and Hampton.
CHARGE IT: Misty Colebank, who turned 18 two weeks ago, could be a very rich woman if she'd just start collecting the interest on all the charges she's taken.
Colebank, who usually gets the toughest assignments on defense, is a master at drawing player control fouls. She's racked up 20 charges in 25 games.
RUNNING ON FUMES: Kempsville, which forced a playoff with Princess Anne to decide the Beach's top region entry, will have played eight games in 12 days after Friday's region final.
According to Dunn, fatigue, however hasn't been a factor.
``That's why we're on a basketball team,'' he said, ``to play games.''
THE RIVALRY: The intense emotions on the court when Salem and Kempsville meet has grown to new heights.
While the Sun Devils and Chiefs have battled back and forth in the Beach the last few years, the younger players have taken notice.
In the junior varsity league, Salem has handed Kempsville its only two losses by a two points. And at the middle school level, the Chiefs have come out on top twice by a point.
``The closeness of the games is rather remarkable,'' Dunn said. ``It just goes to show the intensity of the rivalry.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
Salem's Jenny Harmon, right, and her teammates will go to the big
dance.
by CNB