THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996 TAG: 9601120634
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER AND PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Practice makes perfect . . . usually. But when practice is held in a smaller gym with no clock, no 3-point line and virtually no sidelines, the effect is significantly altered.
Just ask Gavin Harris. Because of problems with the gym floor at Indian River, he and his Braves players have had to hop a bus to Carver Intermediate School every day after school to practice.
``We're losing close games in the last six or seven seconds because they're not used to the clock,'' said Harris. ``We run drills, but without the clock actually being there they're not used to it.
``It affects all of us. It's wearing on the team.''
Indian River has two gyms, but neither is currently in use.
This summer, Indian River added a second, larger gym. During the construction of the second gym, water leaked under the old gym and in August the floor started to buckle. The facility was closed. Before repairs began, the new gym floor also buckled and was deemed unusable.
Earlier in the season, the Indians borrowed the Oscar Smith gym for home game appearances. Now, they travel to the opposing school's gym regardless.
Although the old gym is now open, it does not have baskets, backboards or nets and cannot be used as a practice court. With the new gym slated to open Jan. 26, Harris is optimistic.
``Everything that is happening right now, it can only be something positive for us,'' Harris said. ``If we can get by this, we can get by anything. It can only make us stronger.''
DOING HER SHARE, AND THEN SOME: Norview's Nadine Ward has scored 84 points in six games for a 14-point average. Her numbers put her ninth in Hampton Roads in scoring. More importantly, her points account for 40 percent of the Pilots' total offense this season.
Ward is in the difficult position of being a stellar athlete on a struggling team. However, she said she does not feel that she is carrying the Pilots.
``I'm just playing, trying to win games,'' Ward said. ``I never really noticed. I'm just into my game, I don't think about how many points I've scored.''
Ward is so focused on the court, she doesn't hear the roar of the crowd. Only the voice of Coach Don Lyons snakes through. Lyons characterizes Ward as a hard-working player with ability and skill on a team that is in a lull.
Lyons is hoping college scouts won't be kept away by Norview's 0-6 record.
``Nadine's got a chance for a scholarship, but people have got to come out and see her,'' Lyons said. ``She can play all five positions, has excellent ball-handling skills, but she hasn't had much support for the last two years.''
NEWEST 1,000-POINT CLUB MEMBER: Cox guard Shannon Drury became the second Group AAA girls basketball player in less than a month to score 1,000 points in her career.
Drury, the area's leading scorer and University of Florida bound, hit the mark last Friday night with two minutes left in the first quarter against Green Run.
Drury, who now has 246 points for the season, poured in 30 points to raise her career total to 1,020. by CNB