Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 21, 1993 TAG: 9310220269
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Whether she's posting up her 6-foot frame against an undersized forward in a New River District game or gazing down upon the rest of the world from the high perches of several statistical charts, McNeil stands above the crowd.
The senior center for Christiansburg High School has risen to new heights this year on the basketball floor. Last week, she was the only girls' basketball player ranked among the top 10 in four Timesland categories. She was the top scorer with a 21.0 point average, third in free-throw percentage at 76.1 percent, fifth in field-goal percentage at 54.3 percent and 10th in rebounding at 9.8 per game.
A relatively unheralded recruit, she announced last month she will continue her playing career at Radford University. Some observers said the Highlanders got a sleeper. Now, one would have to be asleep not to notice her ability.
"She's got all the tools," Christiansburg first-year coach Danny Knott says.
A four-year member of the Christiansburg varsity team, McNeil spent much of the early part of her career toiling for some sub-par teams. The current Blue Demons squad was 5-8 at week's end but still vying for the New River District's No. 2 spot behind Blacksburg.
The Demons' success is channeled through McNeil. Knott has favored an up-tempo game plan to help McNeil get open.
"We've done a lot more running this year," McNeil says. "Last year, we were always walking the ball up the floor. [In the running game,] I get more easy shots, layups."
Last Thursday against rival Blacksburg, Christiansburg painfully discovered how bad things can be if the ball doesn't find its way to McNeil. The Indians used a 2-3 zone that McNeil couldn't have cut through with a machete.
She was her usual efficient self, making half her shots. Trouble was, she only shot four times. The Demons never could get McNeil free in the open court, and she was held to a season-low six points in a 56-22 loss.
"We didn't do a good job against their zone," Knott says. "That's definitely the best job anybody has done against her."
Not that other teams haven't tried to stop her. Most nights, McNeil finds herself guarded by at least two players - one in front, one behind - but the defenses rarely work.
Knott's high-post offense and McNeil's athletic ability allows her to get free for shots, and she has shown the ability to step outside and sink short jumpers when needed.
Also relieving some of the pressure has been the solid play of 5-10 sophomore Maureen Jackson, who can score inside when the defense overplays McNeil.
"They complement each other very well," Knott says.
McNeil isn't shut down often.
Two nights after the loss to Blacksburg, she scored 22 points although Salem beat the Demons in a close game.
She learned perseverance last summer in Amateur Athletic Union play, when she found herself going against taller players for the first time in her career. She held her own, and her team, the Roanoke Stars, finished second in the state and advanced to the national tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn.
"In AAU, it was totally different," McNeil says. "It was like I was one of the smallest players. Those girls were big."
McNeil also says she hopes she continues to come up big on the basketball court.
by CNB