THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210608
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Raquita Washington started playing basketball for the most basic of reasons. Boredom.
``I wanted to have something to do,'' Washington said of her decision to play as a ninth grader. ``I didn't want to sit around the house or anything, so I started playing (junior varsity). I got a lot of confidence, so I kept on playing.''
Now the Booker T. Washington 5-foot-4 guard is far from being either bored, or boring. She averages a team-high 12.9 points per game. A four-sport athlete, Washington revels in basketball.
``In basketball, I think about the whole team, you've got to be doing it as a whole team,'' she said of her preference for basketball over her other competitive sports of softball, volleyball and track.
The tenacious defender seemed to take Thursday's matchup with Indian River personally. Always a warrior on the court, Washington grabbed the ball each time she neared it, posting 10 steals to go with 20 points and 11 assists in the 54-42 win. Her performance earned her The Virginian-Pilot's female athlete of the week award.
``For the steals, the girls had the ball right in my face and it was right there,'' Washington said. ``It was easy for me to get at it and go for it. The assists, I'd rather it be a team effort. Most were on fast breaks after a steal.''
Coach Cal Davidson said Washington's competitiveness continues when she leaves the court.
``She's a very sore loser - she doesn't get over it,'' Davidson said with a laugh. ``I'd hate to get in a fistfight with her. It would probably last for a week because she would never quit.''
Her never-say-die attitude has brought her to the forefront of Hampton Roads girls basketball. Her scoring skill is tempered with a team goal of winning that has made her the team leader.
``It's hard. Sometimes I say things and people say I yell, but I don't mean to,'' she said. ``They might get a little attitude sometimes. But I clarify that. I'm not trying to be evil or whatever. But other than that, it's not a problem because everybody wants to win. I know what we've got to do.''
Washington is growing accustomed to taking the Bookers' offense in hand. Her pressing defense and thirst for steals sometimes lands her in foul trouble, a situation she is learning to handle.
``She's a nice person, easy to get along with,'' Davidson said. ``She always smiles . . . except when she is called for a foul she knows she didn't commit.'' by CNB