Print |
E-mail to a friend
SPORTS
Team chemistry important to West Virginia Thunder
HUNTINGTON — West Virginia Thunder plays as a team, and that’s a big reason the girls age 12-Under basketball team placed fifth in the nation last year.
Team chemistry is important at any level, although it doesn’t normally occur at such a young age.
One of the reasons this team plays well together is they have been together five years.
Coaches Larry Lambert and Scott Johnson took the team to Kingsport, Tenn., on Thursday for the AAU National Championship tournament. West Virginia Thunder 12-Under is in a pool that includes the Maryland Flames, Tennessee Threat and Maryland Fencor. Two days of pool play begins Saturday, with teams either advancing to the National Tournament Bracket, or falling into the Classic Tournament Bracket.
Lambert said he is confident the team has a legitimate chance to win it all. The team prepared by playing most of its tournaments in Ohio against teams in the 13-Under and 14-Under divisions.
“In nationals, teams are so big and strong,” Lambert said. “They are usually from bigger cities and have a lot of players to chose from. Playing against older teams will give us a better chance to compete.”
West Virginia Thunder based out of Huntington has players from West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.
Jenna Burdette from Coolville, Ohio, and Mychal Johnson of Proctorville, Ohio, form a strong combination at the guard positions. Lambert said both players handle the ball well, making it difficult for opponents to pressure full-court.
Terra Stapleton from Proctorville, at 6-foot-3, plays in the low post.
Other players on the roster are McKenzie Butler of Mayslick, Ky.; Griffin Dempsey and Chandler Fulks from Proctorville; Kelli Harrison of Poca, W.Va.; Krista Maynard from Fort Gay, W.Va.; Jordan Parker of Tuppers Plains, Ohio; and Sidney Pell of Peebles, Ohio.
Mary Dempsey Dick is the team statistician. Ruth Lambert keeps the Web site www.wvthunder.com going.
