THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 26, 1996 TAG: 9601240139
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
THERE SHOULD BE bigger games still ahead for Nicole Council in the stretch run of an outstanding high school basketball career.
Perhaps a district regular-season championship, a district tournament crown, a region title and even a chance at the state championship.
But none may be more important to her than when she leads her undefeated Churchland team against archrival Western Branch tonight.
The onlookers will include coaches from East Carolina University, there to size up the 5-foot-8 Council and to see if they feel she merits an athletic scholarship.
East Carolina is where Council wants to attend college. And the grant is a must before that is possible for the senior guard.
``There are some other schools interested in me,'' said Council, who has been playing basketball since she started in the backyard with her older brother at the age of 5. ``But I'd really like to go to East Carolina.''
And how does Council plan to go about impressing the recruiters?
By scoring points?
Last Friday night, she became Churchland's all-time leading scorer in girls basketball with a career total of 1,113.
By tossing in a barrage of 3-pointers?
She also holds the school record in that category.
By a triple double?
That's 10 or more points, 10 or more rebounds and 10 or more assists. She also accomplished that feat in last week's game.
By showing her talent as a point guard in spreading around scoring assists?
She averages nine per game, the best on the team.
``The only thing I'm interested in is winning the game,'' she said. ``I come to play. I come to win, not to score. Whatever it takes for me to contribute for us to win is what I want to do.''
That's the attitude that prompts her coach, Duke Conrad, to call Council ``probably the most unselfish good player I ever coached.''
Says Conrad: ``Nicole is among the area's top scorers and just might be No. 1 if she was more selfish. She's an excellent shooter and can score inside and outside. But she is more concerned about the team than herself. She sees the floor as well as anybody I have ever coached, boy or girl.''
Council was surprised when Friday's game against Wilson was stopped in the early minutes of play and she was presented the game ball for breaking Kizzy Butler's school career record of 1,106 points.
``I knew I was getting close to Kizzy's record,'' said Council. ``But I thought I needed 20 points. My mom was sitting in the stands and she knew I only needed five, but she didn't tell me. Shame on her.''
Butler, who graduated last year, and Council were teammates the past three years. Both are among only a handful of girls ever to be four-year varsity starters at Churchland.
``I had no idea I had a chance to break Kizzy's record until Coach Conrad told me before the season I could,'' said Council, who celebrated her 17th birthday Thanksgiving Day. ``I was surprised when he said that I had 940 points. I never thought I had scored that much.''
The Truckers (11-0, 8-0) hold a one-game lead in the Southeastern over Western Branch (10-2, 7-1). Last year's win by Churchland was the first ever for the Truckers at Western Branch in Conrad's coaching tenure.
``So this is a big one,'' said Council.
Even without college coaches in the stands. ILLUSTRATION: GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Nicole Council is congratulated by coach Duke Conrad upon becoming
the girls all-time leading scorer.
by CNB