THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 31, 1997 TAG: 9701310746
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: GIRLS BASKETBALL REPORT
SOURCE: BY REA McLEROY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 66 lines
After spending over three years in the background at Granby High, Sheena Inge has stepped to the forefront.
Up until two games ago, Inge was a consistent but less-than-dynamic offensive threat. The 5-foot-11 senior was a rebound machine, grabbing 21 boards twice in games this season and averaging 12 per outing. But she was scoring a mere 8.2 points per game.
Then Granby coach Juanita Etheridge got tough.
``I told her she could go out and produce for the team and be part of the offense or she could sit on the bench beside me,'' Etheridge said.
Inge heeded the message. She went out and pumped in 16 points against Lake Taylor, then poured in 25 in an Eastern District win over Wilson.
``I love it,'' Etheridge said. ``It was great. That was the motivating thing. Sometimes as a coach you have got to do what you've got to do to motivate them. I knew she had it in her.''
KEY LOSS: Hickory has been stirring things up in the Southeastern District in the past two weeks, but the loss of sophomore standout Denita Griffin could end the Hawks' late-season surge.
Griffin, who is academically ineligible for the second semester, had been the offensive force, scoring 45 points in three district victories since the Christmas break. Playing without Griffin Tuesday night, Hickory lost to Great Bridge 59-34.
Freshman Lindsey Vanderspiegel will step in as a starter. She averages 2.8 points per game.
DISTRICT TURNAROUNDS: So far, the district races have been less than heated this season. Kempsville is unbeaten in Beach action, Booker T. is undefeated in the Eastern and Oscar Smith has suffered only one setback in Southeastern play.
The Southeastern race is at least close. Nansemond River and Oscar Smith were tied for the lead with Lakeland breathing down their necks for weeks. Lakeland lost four of five district games, then rebounded to beat Nansemond River on the Warriors' home floor to put Oscar Smith in the driver's seat. With only five district games remaining, the race could still tilt.
The Beach race appeared to be on track early, but fizzled out when Princess Anne fell to Kempsville and was stunned by Salem. Salem was expected to be a factor, but lost its first two games. Lately, however, the Sun Devils have been making noise.
This upcoming week is crucial. Kempsville again faces Princess Anne (13-2, 11-2) Tuesday and plays what is a traditionally high-caliber game against Salem (14-3, 10-3) next Friday. The Sun Devils have consistently improved over the course of the season. But only a pair of Kempsville loses could force a tie with Princess Anne.
The Eastern District is the race that never was. Churchland and Booker T. appeared poised for an epic season of the Truckers' fast-paced style against the Bookers' patient offense.
The battle fizzled early when Lake Taylor knocked off the Truckers in triple overtime, then Booker T. dismantled them not once, but twice, in 20-point plus victories.
Tonight's Booker T.-Lake Taylor matchup would have been key in the district until Norcom stepped into the mix. The Greyhounds upset Lake Taylor last week, taking the Titans' fate out of their own hands. Now, even if they upset the Bookers, the Titans will have to wait for some other team to do the same to make it a race. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Averaging 8.2 points per game, Sheena Inge canned 16 and 25 her last
two times out.