Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 4, 1993 TAG: 9311060108
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The similarities don't end there.
The dark-haired, 6-foot forwards can score inside or grab rebounds in bunches, then hit the bottom of the net on a 3-point shot more softly than a deer prances through a forest.
They are the only girls in school history to score 1,000 points, and their statistics are so similar you'd need a magnifying glass to find a difference.
Moore has 1,062 points; Gates has 1,113. Moore has 700 rebounds; Gates has 611. Moore has hit 79.3 percent of her free throws; Gates has hit 75.5 percent. Moore has hit 54.3 percent of her shots from beyond the 3-point line; Gates has hit 46.2 percent.
You can bet they have heard the phrase "mirror images" when their names are brought up - too many times for their liking.
"The only thing I get tired of is when people compare us," said Gates, an All-Blue Ridge District selection last year who is averaging 15.4 points per game this year. "A lot of people around school will come up to you and ask who the leading scorer was last night."
Said Moore, who is averaging 15.1. points per game this year and was a second-team All-Group AA selection last year: "People will ask us who's better. The answer is it's neither."
Both are extremely valuable to Lord Botetourt, a team that has bolted to an 18-1 overall record going into Tuesday night's game, is 8-0 in the district and has clinched a tie for the regular-season Blue Ridge title.
"I think they complement each other," said coach David Wheat. "You look at the stats and you see a lot of similarities. They are big girls who can handle the ball, but they have different temperaments, different ways of getting emotionally prepared for a game."
"We're different people," said Gates, who describes Moore as "quiet with a strong wit." Moore calls Gates "outgoing and hyper."
"It's probably to our advantage that they're not clones," Wheat said. "If one's having a cold night, the other one steps up. If one is really hot, the other does a really good job of feeding the ball to her."
Just what other Blue Ridge District coaches want to hear.
"I tell you, they give you nightmares trying to defend them," said Richard Thrasher, William Byrd's coach. "They're able to do so much."
Said Northside coach Marilyn Bussey: "I'm glad they're seniors. As tall as they are, they have such a good shooting touch from long range. You hope to keep the ball out of their hands as much as possible."
Moore and Gates agree that their first game of the season, a 54-52 victory over 1992 Group AA champion Blacksburg, was the start of something big.
"They'd killed us in years past," Gates said. "We played AAU ball this summer with Mary Thorn [Blacksburg's senior point guard]. She showed us her [state championship] ring and was all excited. Now, we hope to show other people our rings."
That could happen. After failing to reach the Region III tournament in their three years with the team, the "Twin Towers" needed only to beat Northside on Tuesday or William Byrd tonight to become regular-season champions and receive an automatic Region III berth.
"We knew what a good team we were going to have this year," Gates said. "We felt we had the tools to realize something big. Before, everybody always said, `They're young. They'll get it.' But we don't have that anymore."
She's right. This is it for Moore and Gates. Moore, who has a 4.1 grade-point average with honors courses and could wind up as class valedictorian, has been contacted by Yale and Harvard about playing basketball. She hasn't made up her mind where she wants to play, but she said it will be for a Division I school.
Gates, who has a 3.4 grade-point average, will play for William and Mary next season. She will play small forward position at the Colonial Athletic Association school.
"They were looking for somebody who could play inside, but who could still shoot," Gates said. "I'll be swinging out a lot to the outside there."
Wheat said he thinks both have a bright future.
"Both of them will be successful in Division I ball," he said. "Jenny, because she's tall and can shoot from the outside, can fill a niche that teams have.
"Ashley has the capability to play inside and outside. She's very aggressive on the boards. She's not real big, but she's a smart rebounder. She anticipates well and has great hands. If she gets her hands on the ball, it's hers."
That's not all Moore or Gates would like to get their hands on. A pair of 1993 Group AA championship rings would fit quite nicely.
by CNB