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Her Own Size: Bishop McGuinness' Thompson will have to deal with an opposing player who is actually taller than 5-8
Steve Dykes Photo
Whitney Knight of Bishop McGuinness has 20 scholarship offers.
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Published: March 12, 2009
Erinn Thompson of Bishop McGuinness isn't just excited about the chance to play in her fourth straight NCHSAA 1-A girls basketball final.
She's excited about the prospect of just playing -- period.
Thompson, a 6-3 senior who has signed with Virginia, was the MVP of the 2007 and 2008 state finals, games in which she had 20 points and 16 rebounds (2007) and 14 points and 19 rebounds (2008).
Those snapshots reflect what Thompson can do when given extended minutes, which she probably will get Saturday when McGuinness (28-4) plays East Bladen (26-2) at noon at N.C. State's Reynolds Coliseum.
Thompson estimates that she has averaged about 13 minutes this season -- as in seasons past, she heads to the bench when games get out of hand.
The limited minutes last season didn't stop her from being named The Associated Press' state player of the year.
And Saturday she'll match up against another post player, Courtney Melvin, East Bladen's 6-1 sophomore.
"They have a post presence which is a big difference," Thompson said. "That should be different because we have gone against a couple of post players this year, but I am sure this game will be a lot more physical.
"I actually look forward to it. Often times the person guarding me is 5-8 and comes up to the Bishop on my uniform. It's nice that I will have to compete and focus."
Focus, intensity and teamwork have been calling cards for McGuinness during its run to three straight titles, and it can add experience to the list this season. The Villains have seven seniors, and two others -- Gina Simmons and Brittany Cox -- also will play in college next season.
"Our first teams didn't have the experience," Coach Brian Robinson said. "This team has five people with at least three championships. I think we are a better team now than we were two years ago because we have more ball-handlers. It used to be (former point guard) Kathryn (Lyons), and she would make decisions off the press, and now we have a lot of decision makers."
Despite a perfect setting for disharmony -- so many good players on one team -- Robinson said he hasn't sensed a peep of discontent. His players have bought into a team philosophy that doesn't feature a particular player.
Cox, a 5-9 guard who will play at Pfeiffer, leads the Villains in scoring (10.6 ppg). Whitney Knight, a 6-2 sophomore guard who already has eight ACC scholarship offers, averages 10.3 points. Thompson averages 9.9, and sophomore guard Megan Buckland 9.3.
"I definitely think we are the most talented this year than the other three," Thompson said. "Our first year we were very efficient and we knew from the second the first buzzer sounded we had to step out there and play.
"Since we have seven seniors but a young team otherwise, it was a bit of a struggle early. Now that they have experience, we will be fine. We haven't won yet, but if we exploit our talent and play together, I think we can handle it."
In 2006, the year of their first state title, the Villains were workmanlike, and athletic was never used to describe the team. With Knight, its hard to say they aren't athletic now.
Knight tried to dunk twice, on the last night of the regular season against Elkin and against West Wilkes in the first round of the Northwest 1-A Tournament. In her attempt against West, Robinson said she pulled down the rim and that the ball bounced out of the basket, off the backboard and back in.
"We were up by maybe 25," Robinson said. "All of a sudden, the crowd erupted on both sides. It was like, ‘Did this girl just try to dunk the basketball?' She understands the value of getting two points at this part of the season, so I don't think she will try it again."
Thomson said that Knight's attempts were incredible.
"If a girl dunks, it's such a big deal," she said. "I think it set the tone for the games she did it in. If someone dunked on me or tried to, I would be nervous."
The Villains probably won't be nervous for long Saturday. The state-championship setting seems to be their natural habitat.
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