Return to story

No depth is not a problem

July 11, 2007 12:35 am

HAMPTON--For reasons unknown, only eight of the 14 players selected to represent the East in the annual Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star girls basketball game were in uniform yesterday at Hampton Coliseum.

Where others might have seen a problem, however, Andrea Barbour recognized an opportunity. The recent Charlottesville High School graduate poured in 34 points, hauled down 14 rebounds and provided several highlight-reel plays as her East squad pounded the West 81-60.

"This only comes once, so I was real excited to play," said Barbour, who will play for Virginia Tech next season. "I was just having fun, basically."

Barbour helped the East get off to a flying start by hitting her first five field-goal attempts. She finished 7-of-8 from the floor in the first quarter--her only miss was a layup that was blocked by Gate City's Haley Odle--as the East built a 26-14 lead.

Even after playing most of the 10-minute opening period, Barbour didn't look tired. She hit five of six free throws, then added a three-point play that extended the East's advantage to 36-16.

And after the West opened the second half with a 7-0 run to draw within 44-34, Barbour hit consecutive baskets to help the East re-establish control.

"She doesn't even know how good she can be," said Charlottesville coach Harry Terrell, who served as part of the East's coaching trio yesterday.

Barbour displayed a dazzling array of skills midway through the fourth quarter. With the East nursing an 11-point lead, she blocked a shot and grabbed the rebound, then took a couple dribbles before launching a Magic Johnson-style one-handed bounce pass that would've produced a layup if teammate Kimberly Rodgers had handled it cleanly.

. While the West's coaches were able to send in rested bodies four or five at a time, Barbour and her seven determined teammates tried to make the best of a difficult situation.

"We would've liked to have more players, but it is what it is," she said. "We knew we had to come out and play hard. We started strong and finished strong."

Courtland's Brittney Bullock, an AAU teammate of Barbour, was the lone Fredericksburg-area player chosen to participate in the VHSCA girls game. Instead, she was one of the East's no-shows.

"Something needs to be done to make sure both teams are equally represented," Terrell said.

Ironically, after Charlottesville beat Courtland in the Group AA state quarterfinals in March, Bullock said facing Barbour was "like playing against five people."

Yesterday, the East needed every one of them.

Jim McConnell: 540/374-5444
Email: jmcconnell@freelancestar.com