ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 28, 1996 basketball TAG: 9611290083
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-10 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Bobby Dixon isn't shy about what his Roanoke Valley Christian girls' basketball team is after this season.
``Hopefully, we're looking toward a state championship,'' said the Eagles' coach. ``The team that won it last year beat us by eight points. I've been really excited by what I've seen in practice.''
The Eagles welcome back four starters, including Gina Guthrie and Rebecca Bryant, a pair of sophomores who combined for nearly 29 points per game a season ago.
``Those two and the whole team have been improved,'' said Dixon, who is entering his 12th season as coach. ``All five starters can put it in the basket. It's probably the best group I've had here.
``We've got players who can do everything. There are no weaknesses. We have quality back-ups. The only thing I hope is that this team wants it as much as it did last year. I hope they don't just come out and go through the motions.''
The Eagles are taking on Group AAA competition in Patrick Henry and E.C. Glass. The Hilltoppers were responsible for one of their two regular-season losses a season ago. The other defeat was at the hands of Lynchburg Christian, but RVC still won the Blue Ridge Conference tournament and regular-season titles.
Roanoke Catholic should move up behind three returning starters, though the Celtics don't have any double-figure scorers back.
``I've got a pretty tall team,'' said Robin Hungate, Catholic's coach. ``The weakest thing will be fundamentals. We probably can't compete with RVC, but maybe by the end of the year we can give them a better game.''
The Celtics will play Patrick Henry's varsity and the Cave Spring junior varsity. This is Catholic's first meeting with the Group AAA Patriots, but the Knights' JVs beat Catholic badly twice last season.
``Sure, they get whipped,'' Hungate said. ``It's good for the kids to see how much better they could be.''
North Cross won't attempt such an ambitious schedule.
``We have some speed, and the girls are dedicated,'' coach Gaylyn Moore said, ``so we're hopeful we can improve our record.
``Roanoke Valley Christian will be tough for years to come. They're a challenge for us.''
The Raiders were 5-7 in the Blue Ridge Conference, despite an overall record of 5-12, so they could move up in the league.
Here is a closer look at the teams:
NORTH CROSS
1995-96 record: 5-12.
Coach: Gaylyn Moore, fourth season.
Returning starters: Ann Ballenger, 5-7, Jr., G, 7.2 points per game; Katherine Kelly, 5-5, Jr., G, 6.1 ppg; Whitney Watson, 5-9, Jr., F-C, 3.0 rebounds per game.
Other key players: Essra Dillaha, 5-10, Sr., F-C, 3.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg; Sara Boxley Parrott, 5-9, Jr., F; Elizabeth Melchonna, 5-7, Jr., F; Jocelyn White, 5-7, Jr., G (transfer from Texas); Hunter Stull, 5-6, Fr., G; Michele Hamilton, 5-9, eighth grade, F-C; Katherine Gwaltney, 5-3, Fr., G; Lan Nguyen, 5-2, Fr., G.
Outlook: The Raiders will be improved, with some experience and more quickness. North Cross might not be ready to challenge Roanoke Valley Christian, but the Raiders have a reasonable chance at a winning record.
ROANOKE CATHOLIC
1995-96 record: 10-11.
Coach: Robin Hungate, fifth season.
Returning starters: Christy Hinman, 5-6, Sr., G-F, 7.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg; Whitney Campbell, 5-4, Soph., G-F, 4.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg; Anna Berding, 5-5, Sr., F, 4.0 rpg.
Other key players: Alisha Hubbell, 5-10, Jr., F-C; Katie Dennehy, 5-10, Jr., F-C, 3.0 rpg; Whitney Cummings, 5-9, Fr., F; Bethany McHugh, 5-9, Fr., F; Candice Sheridan, 5-6, Fr., G.
Outlook: The Celtics have enough height and experience to finish with a winning record. Like North Cross, Roanoke Catholic might not be ready to take on Roanoke Valley Christian.
ROANOKE VALLEY CHRISTIAN
1995-96 record: 20-4 (Blue Ridge Conference regular-season and tournament champions).
Coach: Bobby Dixon, 12th season.
Returning starters: Gina Guthrie, 5-8, Soph., G, 15.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg; Rebecca Bryant, 5-11, Soph., C, 13.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg; Nia Douglas, 5-10, Jr., F, 5.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg; Amy Rumbley, 5-9, Jr., F, 3.0 ppg.
Other key players: Tiffany Dobbs, 5-9, Soph., F (transfer from Northside); Lauren McKee, 5-8, Soph., G; Meagan Weaver, 5-6, Soph., F; Becky Taylor, 5-5, Soph., G; Erin Smith, 5-10, Soph., C; Eva Jones, 5-8, Soph., C.
Outlook: This team has state-title aspirations, with four starters returning from a squad that lost a game that would have put it in fifth place last season. Guthrie and Bryant are the premier players in the Blue Ridge Conference, and the Eagles have some height this season along with depth. This remains a young team, with two sophomores and two juniors in the starting lineup.
LENGTH: Medium: 95 linesby CNB