THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603200676
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
For two years, Salem point guard Misty Colebank had been the driving force behind the Sun Devils.
As a sophomore, she collected a state record 17 assists in three playoff games as her team won its first Group AAA title. Then in 1995, when Salem was rebuilding, she orchestrated the Sun Devils' surprising 18-6 finish.
But when Colebank, a senior who has signed with James Madison, struggled at the beginning of this season, it was her team that gave her a lift.
The result: Salem's first Eastern Region crown, a trip to the state quarterfinals and another amazing Misty Colebank season.
For her efforts, Colebank, this year's comeback kid, is The Virginian-Pilot's girls basketball Player of the Year for the second straight season.
``Everyone is entitled to mistakes,'' she said. ``I was a little frustrated, but we all pulled together and the team uplifted me.''
``Last year she felt like she had to do everything,'' Salem coach Larry Bowman said. ``When she found out this year that she didn't, the pressure was off and she was able to play so much better.
``Maybe it was because we started two freshmen and a sophomore and she spent her time indoctrinating them to what it would be like in crunch time in February and March. She spent so much time helping them that she neglected her own game.''
But that didn't last long. Once the players around her found their confidence, Colebank regained hers.
``The beginning was shaky,'' she said. ``I didn't play to my potential. I was trying to get the whole team involved.''
After the slow start, Colebank went on to average 12.6 points and 6.1 assists a game. Defensively, Colebank was considered one of the area's best players and had the numbers to prove it, as she averaged 2.0 steals and took a team-high 21 charges while being assigned the opponents' toughest perimeter player.
``Without Misty, we would have never gotten as far as we did,'' Bowman said. ``I've always had a coach on the floor in Misty. She can just take over a game and she knew what had to be done in certain situations.''
Such as when the Sun Devils met Kempsville for the fourth time of the season in the Eastern Region final. All the other battles had been close, but with the region's top seed in the state playoffs on the line, Colebank led her team to a 58-43 victory. While she only scored eight points, it was her sharp free throw shooting down the stretch, tenacious defense and ability to read the court that helped Sun Devils win the war.
``Toward the end,'' Colebank said. ``I think I got things done. But it's only when the team has a good game, that truly I have a good game.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
KEYWORDS: ALL-TIDEWATER BASKETBALL TEAM by CNB