ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, November 19, 1996 TAG: 9611190095
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Two words describe the 1996 fall girls' state basketball tournaments: deja vu.
First, William Byrd and Lord Botetourt once again are on a collision course in Group AA. The difference is that if they meet in the state tournament, it will be in a semifinal instead of the championship game, where Botetourt won last year.
Second, the western half of the Group A pairings has the same matchups at the same sites as in 1995: Floyd County plays host to Honaker and Northwood goes to Haysi for quarterfinal games tonight.
It also will be deja vu for Byrd when the Terriers play host to Richlands in a Group AA quarterfinal tonight. Byrd faced Richlands in a summer team camp - and was beaten.
What's different? The sites and opponents for the Terriers, who had a game at Grundy last fall, and Lord Botetourt, which played Blacksburg at home in a first-round state tournament game. Tonight, the Cavaliers must travel to dangerous Marion.
Richlands (21-4) brings five double-figure scorers to Byrd, along with a run-and-gun attack. The Blue Tornadoes press and want an up-tempo game led by guard Kristi Bennett, who is averaging 24.9 points and 10 assists per game.
By contrast, Byrd (22-5) uses a four-corners offense and zone defense to keep the score down. No team has come close to scoring 60 points against the Terriers, who have freshman guard Andrea Gay to run their offense. Inside, 6-foot-2 Stephanie Parnell and 6-0 Brandy Allen are much taller than Richlands' 5-10 center, Chasidy Bailey.
``They beat us in camp, but of course we were light years from where we are now,'' said Richard Thrasher, Byrd's coach. ``They have a long way to go to get to our place, but of course we had an even farther trip last year to Grundy.
``Richlands tries to penetrate and drive to the basket. They're very physical and very aggressive. When we played them at camp, we had never worked on a press offense. But I was very impressed by them.''
Marion (22-3) did manage to slow Richlands and neutralize the Blue Tornadoes' press in the Region IV final. The Scarlet Hurricane won 67-55 to earn a home game against Lord Botetourt.
``Some of our girls didn't play to their potential, but they played hard,'' said Fred Phillips, Richlands' coach. ``Marion did a good job slowing it down in an unusual way. They pressed us so we couldn't get it up the court very fast. They also ran a man-to-man offense when they got the ball and took time off the clock.''
Marion operates behind 5-6 point guard Leigh Jones, a three-year starter and a second-team All-Group AA choice last season. She's averaging 18 points and 5.5 assists. Inside, 5-11 Kim Schwartz and 5-9 Allison Jennings (11.0 points per game) will have to fight Botetourt's front line of 6-0 Sarah Hicks, 5-10 Takisha Basham and 5-9 Aimee Bird. Jones likely will be matched out front with Sarah Moore.
The Cavaliers (24-2) must go into the Marion gym, where the Hurricane have a rabid following. That's what made William Byrd's victory in the Region III championship game so important.
``Of course we can come back,'' said Hicks, Timesland's player of the year as a junior. ``It won't be easy. But the Byrd game is history and we have to move on.''
``Lord Botetourt can play. There's no doubt about it,'' said Mike Davidson, Marion's coach. ``They have two of the best players back in Moore and Hicks.
``Our team has come a long way. If you had told me at the beginning of the year we'd be here, I'd have just laughed.''
Floyd County (24-2) has four starters back from last year's Group A semifinalists.
``We still hurt a little bit at the post. Anyone with a lot of size and we can't do well,'' said Alan Cantrell, the Buffaloes' coach. ``But the kids have played really hard and try to do things before a team sets up to run power plays.''
Floyd County counts on seniors Sara Conner, Amy Vest, Sonya Hylton, Julie Sowers and Jill Quesenberry, each of whom started or saw significant playing time a year ago. The Buffaloes have played the most demanding schedule of any Group A team in the state tournament, with the losses coming to Group AA Northside, which finished third in the Blue Ridge District behind Botetourt and Byrd, and perennial Group A power Glenvar.
``We've been going at it a long time,'' said Cantrell, looking back on team camps in July and August.
``I sense this is a group that wants to make sure it does as well as past groups, and those seniors have held this team together. We have a great attitude and great leaders. Now it's a case of: Does the hard work pay off with a state title?''
Honaker (22-3) is led by All-Group A point guard Misty Davis (17.5 ppg, 6.0 assists per game), and coach Gordon Johnson says his team - like Floyd County - will run and press. That should make tonight's game a high-scorng affair.
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY\Staff. Coach Richard Thrasher has Williamby CNBByrd back in the Group AA girls' tournament. color.