DATE: Monday, October 13, 1997              TAG: 9710130064

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   70 lines

GIRLS BASKETBALL THREE TEAMS WILL HAVE NEW LEADERS THIS SEASON

When the newly formed Northeastern-Albemarle Conference tips off in girls basketball late this fall, three of its schools - Perquimans County, Manteo and Currituck County - will have a new look.

All three will have new coaches.

The most unusual situation will be at Perquimans, where a husband and wife combination will switch roles. Tanya Turner, who two years ago guided the Lady Pirates to the final four in the 1A state playoffs, has stepped down. Her husband, Bob Turner, formerly her assistant and most recently the junior varsity boys basketball coach, will take over.

``I guess you could call it Turner replaces Turner,'' Bob said with a chuckle. ``We wanted to start a family and we felt that it would be easier for Tanya, if she was to become pregnant during the season. Then she wouldn't have to give up coaching in the middle of the season. This was one of the hardest decisions she had to make and one she had to think about for a long time. She couldn't give it up totally.''

Bob Turner, a physical education teacher at the school, was Tanya's assistant for three years before taking over the JV boys program. He is also the JV football coach and girls track coach. He expects little change in the program that both husband and wife developed.

``Not much is going to change for the girls. We're going to keep mostly everything the same,'' he said. ``The biggest thing is that we lost four leaders (to graduation), not just four basketball players. It's going to be a young team with a lot of sophomores and juniors, and in this conference there's not going to be an easy night.''

Turner said practice starts Nov. 3 and the team will play two games before Thanksgiving. The opener is at Creswell on Nov. 24.

In Manteo, Dan Corbin replaces Bill Bohannon, whose coaching contract was not renewed. Corbin, who was assistant coach for the boys team, was assistant to Bud Hendrix for five years, head boys coach for six years, and girls volleyball coach for five years.

``I think he'll get back to some fundamentals,'' said Kenny Meekins, Manteo Athletic Director. ``He's been a boys coach, and the girls game is starting to resemble the boys game more and more. He has a lot of experience, and he's real motivated.''

Corbin said he is ready to play an up-tempo style, not unlike the way the Manteo boys have played the last few years.

``I also like to play pressure defense and switch defenses,'' Corbin said. ``Only two or three seniors are coming back, so we'll have a lot of young kids out there.''

The Lady Redskins open Dec. 2 at home against Washington. The schedule will be tough with two games against the Pam Pack, two games against Northeastern, and contests with Great Bridge and Cox.

Ed Bailey, who has been the boys JV coach at Currituck the past four years, will take over for Cari Miller, whose coaching contract was not renewed. Bailey, a Currituck graduate and a graduate of Elizabeth City State University, also coached the boys program at Knapp Junior High School. He led the 1995-96 JV team to a 16-4 record.

``We will roughly have about six players back from last year,'' Bailey said. ``We're kind of small, but we'll be quick with a lot of fast breaks, so we'll pick up the tempo of the game.

``Overall, I think we have a good core coming back. We have one of the best guards in the conference in Kim Lee, who was all-conference her freshman and sophomore years. Everything will probably be working around her.'' ILLUSTRATION: Coaching carousel

Three schools in the Northeastern-Albemarle Conference will have new

girls basketball coaches this year. Here is a look at the changes:

Perquimans County High Departing: Tanya Turner Incoming: Bob Turner

Currituck County High Departing: Cari Miller Incoming: Ed Bailey

Manteo High Departing: Bill Bohannon Incoming: Don Corbin

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