NSU and NCAA women's hoops tournament in the same sentence?

Debra Clark

Hey, we kid because we care. Besides, on Friday and Saturday those two entities will have something in common - sort of - when Norfolk State coach Debra Clark will be one of 19 head coaches participating in a mock selection exercise hosted by the Division I women’s basketball committee and members of the NCAA staff in Indianapolis.

Fans can follow the exercise via a Cover It Live blog on www.NCAA.org Friday and Saturday. Both blog sessions beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern time, and accounts of the exercise will also be provided on the women’s basketball championship Facebook and Twitter pages.

ODU's Buchan is a beast in Bulgaria

Bulgarian sweep for the British under-20 team with Old Dominion's Mairi Buchan lighting it up! Buchan's team-high 15 points allowed  the British team to cruise past Bulgaria 65-45 in the final game of warmups prior to the European Championships, which begin later this week.

Buchan amassed 38 points in the three-game sweep played in Bulgaria.

Next up: the B Division European Championships in Macedonia. The Brits take on Belgium on Friday.

We're rooting for Buchan and Lady Monarch Becca Allison, who is also part of the U-20 team.

The folks in Falkirk love them some Mairi

Treated like a star wherever she goes, planes chartered to fly her around the country and at the top end of her class....

Maya Moore? Brittney Griner?

Mairi Buchan.

A bit over the top? Perhaps. But if you can't get love from your local newspaper, where can you get it? And the folks at the Falkirk Herald - the "biggest-selling local weekly newspaper in Scotland" - are clearly proud of one of their own getting it done in America.

A Stirlingshire, Scotland native, Buchan earned first-team CAA All-Academic honors and was one of the heroes of the Lady Monarchs' improbable 50-49 comeback victory over Delaware in the CAA Tournament semifinals.

Soon there will be two Buchans playing stateside, as Mairi's younger brother, Cameron, is set to enroll at the Kent Prep School in Connecticut.

"She's told me all about the people, all the overenthusiasm and the cheesy chat," Cameron explained. "It'll be a laugh, I'm really looking forward to it. But it'll be a challenge too because basketball is much tougher over there than it is here. It's a step up and it's come at the right time."

We're looking forward to asking Mairi about Cameron's progress this fall. That is, if we can fight through all the fans mobbing her on campus.

21 questions for Kim Rodgers

It hasn't been the smoothest of rides for ex-Princess Anne High star Kim Rodgers at Maryland, but judging from this interview, it seems as though "Fia" is determined to make the 2010-11 season her best yet.

JMU verbal commit earns raves from ESPN

Looks like the recruiting staff at JMU has uncovered another gem. At least that's how ESPN's Mark Lewis is calling it after watching Class of 2011 verbal commit Achiri Ade perform during last week's USA Invitational at Penn State:

When a player is as eye catching as this 6-foot forward from Baltimore, Md., and you're still tempted to say she's just scratching the surface, great things are on the horizon. Ade is impressive both physically and in her playing performance. She utilizes her size, strength and explosiveness to make plays that might have a rough edge to them now but will suit her well at the next level. Her first step covers a lot of ground and created a lot of opportunities for her off the drive. Inside she got off the floor both on her shot as well as her rebounding efforts. The key words in describing her game are effort and attack. On either end of the floor she's relentless and refuses to be outworked. There are fundamental skills that need refinement but the potential is limitless and should keep the folks at James Madison smiling.

Postcards from ODU's Buchan, Allison and Virginia Beach's Williams

   It's a big week for Old Dominion's Mairi Buchan and Becca Allison, who will vie for a European Championship title starting Friday in Kavadarci, Macedonia. The two Lady Monarchs and native Scots -- Buchan is a junior and Allison a redshirt freshman -- are part of Great Britain Standard Life Under-20 team competing for a European Basketball Division B title.

Last week Allison scored nine in a 70-35 exhibition victory over Austria in Baden, Austria - a feat considering the team departed Britain for Austria at 3 a.m., 12 hours prior to tipoff. In a second game against Austria,  Buchan led the scoring with 10 points, though the British team lost 49-48.

Buchan aad Allison scored 12 apiece against Bulgaria on Friday in another tuneup won by the Brits 55-44.

The real test begins Friday against Belgium, followed by games against Hungary on July 17, host team Macedonia on July 18 and the Czech Republic on July 20.

Buchan and Allison are the lone collegiate players from Virginia on the U20 team. Other teammates from American Division I programs are Mary Durojaye (Robert Morris), Kashmere Joseph (Seton Hall), Katrin Chiemeka (Davidson), Charlotte Stoddart (Fordham) and Kathryn Taylor (Colgate). 

Also in international competition, Princess Anne High School's Elizabeth Williams (Virginia Beach) led the way for the 2010 USA U17 Women's World Championship team, which finished its exhibition schedule over the weekend as the winner of a round-robin, pre-world championship event in Alagon, Spain.

The 6-3 Williams ranked fourth among all participants in scoring (11.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg), tied for third in blocked shoots (1.3 bpg) and tied for fifth in shooting percentage (50 percent) in the three-day tournaments. Her efforts earned her MVP honors; the USA team finished 2-1.

Noted Williams: "It's cool to be named MVP, but I still think it's better we won the tournament as a team. It's a nice feeling, but at the same time, we still need to get better if we want that world championship trophy."


On Monday the team heads to Rodez France, for the start of the inaugural FIBA U17 World Championship for Women, which begins Friday.

The rising senior at Princess Anne, considered the top prospect in the class of 2011, remains mum about her college decision, though speculation has centered around Duke, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia as her favorites.

VHSCA all-star recap

Georgetown fans reading this Daily Press report ought to be pretty excited, because Lancaster High's Andrea White sounds like a real beast. Nice effort by locals Dashera Boone and Cassandra Morgan, too, in the East's 88-81 victory. By the way, Morgan, like Boone a recent Menchville High graduate, will attend Old Dominion but will focus on academics instead of hoops.

Who's who primer for Tuesday's VHSCA all-star game

Plan on checking out this week's VHSCA all-star girls basketball game (Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Hampton Coliseum) but concerned you might not know who's who on court? You certainly can't count on the game's program for help. Sure, it's as thick as a phonebook, but 99 percent of its pages contain ads and/or well-wishes for the various players. What good is that?

 That's where we come in. The following is a primer on the players scheduled to take part in the all-star festivities, complete with their uniform number and college of choice.

But first, a couple of disclaimers:

- Note the phrase "scheduled to take part". Many a year I've been disappointed to learn upon arrival that one or more of the players I've come to see has pulled out for some such reason. Not saying this will definitely happen on Tuesday. Just don't be surprised.

- As best we can determine, Lacey Harris is attending Old Dominion and Kayla Osborne will enroll at Virginia Tech. What we're not sure of is whether they're going to these schools by invitation, to try and walk on or simply because these are such outstanding universities. Hopefully, someone - preferably Lacey or Kayla themselves - will drop us a note and clear things up.

Now, on to the list....

EAST GIRLS BASKETBALL ROSTER

10 - Lacey Harris, 5-6 G, Millbrook
- Helped the Pioneers to an undefeated season (22-0) and the Group AA, Division 3 title. Will attend Old Dominion University.

12 - Holly Morgan, 5-6 G, Buffalo Gap
- Shenandoah Valley District Player of the Year helped the Bison win back-to-back Group A, Division 1 state titles in 2008 and 2009. Will play at Bridgewater College. "She's capable of playing the 1, 2 or 3 for us," Bridgewater assistant coach Cyndi Justice said.

13 - Chantal Thomas, 5-6, George Mason
- Defensive ace, floor general and a first-team Group A all-state selection (AP) who led Mason to back-to-back Group A, Division 2 state titles. Will play for Christopher Newport.

14 - Kirastin Cole, 5-6 G, James Monroe
- Averaged 6.7 rebounds and 4.8 steals and an area-best 24.4 points despite facing junk defenses designed to shut her down. A first-team All-Region I pick for James Monroe, which fell to Bruton 50-43 in the Region I Division 3 quarterfinals.Will play for Patrick Henry Community College.

15 - Andrea White, 6-0 F, Lancaster
- Averaged 29 points, 14.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 5.6 steals and 2.9 blocks to lead Lancaster (20-2) to the Group A, Division 2 state final. Posted 29 points, 22 rebounds, five assists, seven blocks and seven steals in a 62-53 double-overtime win over Lee in the state semis. Signed with Georgetown.

20 - Kendra Holmes, 5-9 F, Loudoun County
- Second team Group AA all-state pick (AP) and the VHSL coaches' Division 3 Player of the Year in 2009. Holds school records for single-game blocks (9) and rebounds (31) and single-season rebounds (373, 12.4 rpg). Cracked the 1,000 career-point barrier (1,004) in her final game. Will play for Lincoln Memorial University, a Division II school in Harrogate, Tenn. which plans to move up to D-I in 2011.

22 - Alissa Kain, 5-9 G, Loudoun County
- Averaged 13.4 ppg and tended to play her best in the biggest games. Had 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a 63-47 victory over Turner Ashby in the 2009 Group AA Division 4 title game. Scored more than 1,000 points in her career. Has signed with Navy; will spend her first year at the Naval Academy Prep School.

24 - Dashera Boone, 5-9 G/F, Menchville
- Averaged a team-leading 14.9 ppg for the Monarchs and earned first-team All-Peninsula District honors. Will attend Elizabeth City State.

25 - Debbie Smith, 5-10 G, Hampton
- Led the Peninsula District in scoring (21.2 ppg) and was named the Peninsula District and the Daily Press Girls Basketball Player of the Year. A second-team Group AAA all-state pick (AP). Has signed with James Madison.

30 - Cassandra Morgan, 6-0 F, Menchville
- Averaged 11.6 ppg and helped the Monarchs win a share of the Peninsula District regular-season title. A second-team All-District pick.

32 - Jessica Escorza, 5-11 G/F, Freedom
- Returned to Freedom as a senior after playing her sophomore year at Notre Dame Academy and her junior year at Paul VI Catholic. Helped the Eagles capture a second straight Group AA Division 4 state title. Has signed with Wofford.

40 - Gabby Tyler, 6-2 C, Greensville
- Southside District and Region I (Division 3) Player of the Year averaged 18 points and 17 rebounds in leading Greensville to a 27-0 record before falling to also-unbeaten Millbrook in the Division 3 state title game. Has signed with Charlotte.

42 - Kelsey Buchanan, 6-3 C, Freedom
- Group AA state player of the year (AP) averaged 19 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks in leading the Eagles to a second straight state title. Posted a triple-double (11 points, 21 rebounds, 10 blocks) in the 2009 state title game and had 25, 16 and 9 in the 2010 championship game. Has signed with Delaware.

East coaches: Maze Toomer, Surry County; LaBryan Thomas, George Mason; Debbie Sanders, Millbrook; Jason Eldredge, Freedom; Saundra Sawyer, Lake Taylor

WEST GIRLS BASKETBALL ROSTER

10 - Sheniqua Woods, 5-2 G, John Burton
- Speedy defensive standout averaged nearly 5 assists per game and helped the Raiders go 28-0 before suffering a 3-point loss to Surry County in the Group A Division 1 state title game. Will play for Emory and Henry.

11 - Carter Williams, 5-5 G, Spotswood
- Averaged 13.6 ppg and led the Trailblazers to the Group AA Division 4 state title game. Has signed with High Point.

12 - Ti'Asia McGeorge, 5-4 G, William Fleming
- Western Valley District Player of the Year averaged 12.2 points and 6.3 assists for the Colonels. Has signed with American.

12 - Julia Scales, 5-6 F, Bassett
- Focal point of a Bengals team that advanced to the Group AA Division 4 quarterfinals. Honorable mention VHSCA all-state pick. Will attend Lynchburg College.

14 - Kayla Goins, 5-6 G, Carroll County
- Led the Cavaliers with 15.9 ppg and 9.6 rpg while setting a single-season school record for steals (122). Scored a game-high 23 points in the Cavaliers' 62-46 loss to Spotswood in the Group A Division 4 state quarterfinals. Will play at Ferrum.

15 - Kyana Jacobs, 5-6 G, Potomac
- A four-time team MVP, Jacobs earned Washington Post All-Metropolitan Honorable Mention honors as a senior, capping her career by earning All-Cardinal District Player of the Year honors, All-Northwest Region First Team honors and News & Messenger All-Area Second Team honors. Has signed with USC Upstate.

20 - Krystal Patton, 5-6 G, Chilhowie
- Led the Warriors to the Group A Division 2 state semifinals, then scored 26 of her team's 42 points in a loss to George Mason. "She gave us fits. We tried double-teaming her. At one point, we even triple-teamed her. She took all our focus defensive-wise," Mason coach LaBryan Thomas said. Also a Group A all-state first teamer in volleyball. Will play for Lenoir-Rhyne.

22 - Lauren Burford, 6-1 G/F, Fairfax
- Averaged 20.2 ppg, 10.8 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks. A second-team Group AAA all-state pick (AP). Has signed with Villanova.

24 - Melissa Gallo, 5-10 G/F, W.T.Woodson
- A three-time first-team All-Liberty District honoree. Averaged 13.7 ppg as a senior. Has signed with Boston University. "Melissa has very good skills at the guard position. She knows how to score, and I think her game is perfect for our up-tempo style of play," BU assistant coach Michael Leflar said.

25 - Kayla Osborne, 5-6 G, Hidden Valley
- Scored a team-high 24 points in a two-point Region IV semifinal loss to Carroll County than denied the Titans a fifth straight trip to the state tournament. River Ridge District Player of the Year. Will attend Virginia Tech.

40 - Salesse Stovall, 6-1 C, William Fleming
- Second-team All-Northwest Region pick led Fleming and scoring and rebounding. Has signed with Marshall.

42 - Kirby Burkholder, 5-11 F, Turner Ashby
- Averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds and leaves Turner Ashby as the school's all-time leading scorer. Older sister Jordan, a junior at Bridgewater College, finished third in the ODAC in scoring at 16.8 ppg. Kirby has signed with James Madison.

West coaches: Michael Goforth, John Burton; Mark Halsey, Chilhowie; Jeremy Hartman, Robert E. Lee; Chris Dodson, Spotswood; Fred Priester, Oakton.

Whatever happened to ... JMU's Jess Cichowicz

Jess Cichowicz,a four-year starter at point guard for James Madison, holds several school records, including career assists (670), season (5.86) and career (5.29) assist average, assists in a game (17) and season steals (82). The 2003 graduate is also a former member of the Dukes staff as director of operations (2007-08).

In her words, here's how she spent her time since graduating in 2003.

After graduating from JMU, I returned home to Australia. I had decided to go back to school to get a teaching degree but since the school year is different over here I had to wait about nine months before I could begin my course. I worked with my mum until my course began and, after a year of intense study, received my postgraduate teaching degree in primary education (K-6).

During this time I returned to my old basketball team, the Nunawading Spectres to play in the SEABL (the league below our professional league). I also played for the Dandenong Rangers in the WNBL (the Australian professional league) and was a member of the 2004 championship team and went on to compete in the FIBA World Championships in Taiwan. Unfortunately I reinjured my knee (I had previously needed surgery after my senior season at JMU) and had to go through another surgery. I played another season in the SEABL but decided at the end of the season to take a break from basketball.

I worked as an emergency teacher for a little over a year before deciding to return to the U.S. I arrived back in Virginia with intentions of teaching but ended up working with a civil engineering company. I had a fantastic learning experience working as a civil designer for about a year and a half until a position came open at my alma mater. I took on the Director of Operations position at JMU in 2007-2008 and was thrilled to be back involved with the Women’s Basketball team. At the conclusion of my first year I re-evaluated and decided it was time to move back to Australia. I had missed the birth of my first niece and almost didn’t make it home for my sister’s wedding. I decided family was too important to me to be so far away from them.

I returned home to Australia in 2008 and went back to emergency teaching. In 2009 I received a position teaching grade 1 at Springvale Heights Primary School and have continued teaching at the new merged school, Springvale Rise Primary School, with a grade 5/6 class this year. I thoroughly enjoy what I do and have ambitions of returning to school to undergo a masters degree in teaching within the next few years.

As for basketball, I have not returned to competition since re-injuring my knee. I miss the game I love so dearly and am in the process of finding a local team to play socially where I can forget about the stress of high level sports and just enjoy playing. I keep track of the Dukes online and had a feeling that 2009-2010 would be their year. I would have loved to have been at the tournament to experience their accomplishment of becoming CAA Champs, but unfortunately could not due to work commitments.

The hardest-working girl in the game?

We're already huge fans of soon-to-be Longwood guard Bria White, and not just because she has a world-class last name. You see, several weeks ago, we asked a bunch of incoming freshmen what they would be doing this summer to get ready for their debut season. All of the responses were strong (and greatly appreciated). But Bria's blew us away. So much so that we can't wait to see her in action for the Lancers this season. Because while some opponents may wind up outplaying her (remember, she's just a freshman), we find it hard to believe anyone will outwork her.

Here's Bria's version of "How I'll Spend My Summer":

I workout everyday at my nearby Community center that I've gone to throughout my entire basketball career. I am assigned specific workouts on certain days. I am also on a jumping program to increase my vertical and restrengthen my ankle. Along with my jumping workout, my trainer and I go out to the field where I use my parachute. This is for my endurance and power. I run the field (50 yards) 6 times then go inside to lift weights. I lift While I am tired to ensure that I get the most out of the parachute. After I lift weights I go into the gym to shoot. So, basically with all that said I am on a very strenuous workout, my trainer puts me through very extensive drills, some of which are that of the NBA. Having trainers that have played college basketball and have come from a long line of basketball, Frank Peterson and Sean Tracy are going above and beyond the call of duty to make sure I am ready for division I college basketball. My Schedule is as follows:


Mondays: I alternate weeks where run a mile or use the parachute. Even weeks I run a mile, odd weeks I use the parachute. With the parachute we increase how many up and backs I do. Each week an up and back is added. After I run, my trainer and I go straight to the weight room as a cool down, concentrating on legs and biceps. After our lift, we proceed to the gym where I start my ball handling drills. After ball handling we jump right into our quick release shooting (ranging for about 150 to 200 shots). After shooting we do alot of moves going left (Sweep and go, 1 dribble getting to the basket, 1 dribble pull-ups) Right side we go into NBA moves (Snatch back, Euro Step, ShamGuard, Killer Crossover). On driving to the basket moves, my trainer uses either a pad or a bag to ensure I can get all the way to the basket even with a hit. After our on the go moves I do my 28 week jump program in which we increase reps each week. Even Weeks its Monday, Wednesday Friday. Odd Weeks they are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

Tuesday: Parachute or Mile Depending on which week it is, Weight room, Gym (mikans, ball handling, moves, backboard touches, touch the rim the run to half court, shoot repeat 10 times). Post work, Jump Pro workout.

Wednesday: 2 Ball dribbling, All-Americans, post work, defense, dribble pull-up, jab step, Rip Hamilton (catch pump fake shoot or catch pump fake go to the basket) Heavy rope, speed and agility ladder, speed rope, backboard taps with heavy ball. Post work (drop steps, up and unders, turnaround jumpers, high post work).

Thursday: Speed and agility ladder (Heavy rope series) ball handling, game speed moves (cross over, hesitation, stop and go, between the legs) Post work, Jump Pro (depending on what week it is).

Friday: Parachute, Weights, Court work (ball handling, jump shots catch and shoot jab, sweep and go) Post work*Fridays are concentrated on defense so after all of my court work I go on the field and slide down and back 8 times (staying low, or I start all over)

Saturday: Defense lane slides, down and backs, around the gym, stutter step quick slide, back pedal). Post work, Jump Pro (depending on week) court work.

Sunday:  Specially left hand, strength and defense.

You go, girl.

Bria is one of three players in the incoming class the Lancers announced earlier this week. She will be joined by Emilee Dunton, a 5-8 guard out of Forest, Va. whose 526 career assists ranks third in Virginia High School League history, and Mina Jovanovic, a 5-9 guard from Serbia by way of Salt Lake Community College.