THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701220174
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA MCLEROY, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: 79 lines
AS SHE STOOD in her back yard, admiring her older brother shooting baskets, all 8-year-old Stacie Watson wanted was a chance to play.
Brother Brad was two years older, a future basketball talent at Deep Creek High. Eventually, Brad would teach her all he knew about a game they were both learning.
``I used to go sit in the back yard and watch him play,'' Stacie said. ``He taught me to play.''
From that day forward, Stacie's career became a family affair. She played recreation league with her father, Bob, and continued to play in the back yard with her brother, pounding the dirt court where she would learn patience and perseverance.
``He'd make me shoot 20 free throws and pull me to the side to talk to me,'' she said of Brad. ``He taught me all the basics.''
Stacie Watson climbed through the ranks of recreation-league play, then earned a starting slot on the Deep Creek Middle School team. She went on to join the high school's varsity as a freshman.
``It was a big jump,'' she said. ``It was a really big jump from middle school to high school. The intensity level climbed, the tempo was higher.''
For two years, the 6-foot-4 brother and 5-foot-11 sister shared playing time on the Hornets' varsity squads. Brad no longer plays, but Stacie is now in the top ranks of Southeastern District girls basketball players. She is averaging eight points a game and manhandling opponents on defense.
Although Deep Creek does not keep blocking statistics, Stacie's father keeps a count on her statistics from the stands. In a game against Lake Taylor earlier this year, she rejected 15 shots.
``They don't keep the stats, so how can anyone know if she has a triple-double? She has several double-doubles this year,'' he explained.
Despite her ability to regularly block and rebound, Watson shies away from defensive acrobatics.
``I don't like playing defense,'' she said. ``I do, but I have a tendency to foul.''
Or at least to be called for fouls when guarding smaller opponents throughout the district.
``I like playing people who are smaller than me,'' Watson said. ``It's easier to post up. A lot of people are bigger than me, though. They may be my height, but they're bigger or stronger.''
But Watson doesn't back away from the challenge. After two years of varsity volleyball, Watson has learned to step up and eye the opposition across the net. Her ability to spike has led to her ability to block.
``I learned blocking from playing volleyball,'' Watson said. ``That helped me. Basically, it's now a natural instinct to go up and block.''
Instinct is the dominant factor in Watson's playing career. After nine years of competitive basketball, she can feel where her teammates are and know when an opponent will drive the lane. Although the Hornets (4-7 overall, 2-6 in the district) will fall short of her preseason goal of going undefeated, they could make some noise down the stretch. Deep Creek has been close in the majority of its games, falling to undefeated Booker T. by four and pushing district co-leader Oscar Smith to overtime.
The Hornets upset then-No. 4 Churchland last week and are chomping at the bit for tonight's matchup against Nansemond River.
``We're practicing harder and taking practice more seriously,'' Watson said. ``We just have different plays. There are different plays we've been setting up and they've been trying to get the ball to me. Our defense is great.''
Once the season ends, Watson will be far from idle. The three-sport athlete will turn her attention to soccer, which she plays to keep in shape, and to making her collegiate choice.
Right now, Watson is eyeing Christopher Newport University.
``I've been to see them play,'' she said. ``It looks a lot quicker. They're good. I'd really like to play over there.''
Playing at CNU would offer Watson more than the chance to compete at the college level - it would keep her close to home. Where she could continue to get coaching tips from her in-house mentors, Bob and Brad. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN
Stacie Watson, a 5-foot-11 senior, is averaging eight points for the
Hornets and manhandling opponents on defense. In a game against Lake
Taylor this year, her father recorded 15 blocked shots.
KEYWORDS: HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL