THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 17, 1997 TAG: 9701150164
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 94 lines
If Toni Shannon seems tired these days, it's probably from spending so much energy carrying the Norcom girls basketball team.
Shannon, a junior and a second-team all-city pick last season, is the only returner from the Greyhounds' eight-player rotation of a year ago. Five of her current teammates had never played basketball before. But in one of the most remarkable individual displays of the young season, Shannon has almost single-handedly kept Norcom respectable. The junior has played all five positions for coach Danny Hill and ranks fourth in South Hampton Roads in scoring with nearly 20 points a game. She's also wriggled and thrust her 5-11, 135-pound frame around and over bigger, wider bodies for more than 15 boards a game.
We want to know more about this rising star Shannon. So I start with a phone call:
``This is Paul White from The Virginian-Pilot. May I speak to Toni Shannon, please?''
``Speaking,'' a deep masculine voice replies.
``Er, Toni?''
``Which Toni you looking for?''
``The one who plays basketball at Norcom High.''
``OK. I'm her father. I'm Tony, too. She's here. Hold on. I'll put you on the speakerphone. (Click). OK, we can all hear you.''
Strange, I thought. I mean, surely they don't think I'm calling to ask her for a date.
``You there, Toni the basketball player?''
``Yes.''
``First of all, congratulations on a terrific season so far. Now, how'd you get to be such a good player?''
``My daddy,'' Toni said. ``He taught me when I was nine or 10.''
``That's right,'' Tony Shannon said. ``I took them - her and my son Tony - out there.
``Another Tony?''
``Yeah, he plays for Cradock Middle. Played 'em both one on two. Wore their tongues out. Told em' in the long run they'd appreciate it.''
``I see. So tell me, Toni at Norcom, is it true you're carrying a 3.6 grade-point average.''
``Yes! Yes! Yes!''
``Toni's mom, is that you?''
``Yes! Yes! Academics come first! Yes! You gotta have something up top!''
``You're name's not Toni, too, is it?
``No, it's Tina. Tina Marie. And we're just so proud of Toni.''
A comment overheard in the background suggests young Toni is mildly embarrassed by her mother's exhultations. But she's definitely not embarrassed by her mother. Tina Marie Shannon goes on to explain that she hasn't been able to watch her daughter play much because she's been attending college. And when Toni is asked about her proudest moment in life, she says it came last month, when she watched her mother graduatefrom Norfolk State.
``I was like, where's my degree? Pay the lady!'' exclaimed Tina, who now teaches at James Monroe Elementary.
``Yeah, they get their brains from their mother and their sports from their father,'' Tony the father said.
``I see. Speaking of sports, does it ever get frustrating playing with such an inexperienced team?
``Sometimes,'' answered Toni. ``But not really too much, because I love the game of basketball. Since I love it so much I can teach others.''
``It seems you've improved a lot since last season. Did you play with Boo Williams?
``No, but I played the whole summer with a lot of boys. We played outside at Jameshurst Elementary School. This man from Deep Creek used to come out and help me. Everyone called him Magic. I don't know his real name. But him and a lot of older men would always come out there and help.''
``You're kind of slim. How are you able to rebound so well?
``Long arms,'' Tony the father answered. ``That girl's got the long arms of the law. I call her big bird.''
``OK. What about college?''
``I haven't really thought about which college I'd like to go to yet.''
``One last thing, Mrs. Shannon. Is it a problem having all those people in the house with the same name.''
``That's no problem. All I have to say is `Toni, come eat!' and everybody comes.''
``Makes sense.''
``By the way, did we tell you that there's going to be a story on Toni in Norfolk Southern magazine, Jan. 15 issue.''
``Well, no, but....''
``And that Tony Jr. has won the Cradock Middle School chess tournament two years in a row.''
``I didn't know that. Well, I've got to go. Thanks for your time. I'll be in touch.''
And believe me, I will. For while Toni Shannon is indeed having a marvelous basketball season, there's obviously more than one good story in the home of Tony, Tony, Toni and Tina. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PAUL WHITE
Toni Shannon, a junior, has played all five positions for the
Greyhounds.