[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 53 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E684-E685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SIXTH DISTRICT IS HOME TO FOUR STATE ROUNDBALL CHAMPS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 1, 2002

  Mr. COLBE. Mr. Speaker, the University of Maryland just won the NCAA 
college basketball championship, we are deep into the NBA pro 
basketball playoffs, and the nation's high schools recently completed 
their basketball tournaments. During this basketball season, I am 
pleased to report that the Sixth District of North Carolina is the 
proud home of four state champions--three girl's teams and one boys' 
squad.
  North Carolina is known nationally as a hotbed of basketball--both 
from a playing standpoint as well as a spectator sport. We know 
basketball in the Tar Heel State. That is what makes this season so 
special for the folks back home. We have not one, not two, not three, 
but four state champions. It has been a special season and one that is 
worthy of recognition in the Congressional Record.
  We begin with the Ledford Senior High School girls' basketball team 
because the Panthers completed a perfect season with a win in the title 
contest on March 15. The Panthers finished the year 32-0 with a 
surprisingly easy 73-51 victory over Tarboro High in the 2-A 
championship game. In fact, every win this year was by double digits; 
no one could touch the Panthers of Ledford High.

[[Page E685]]

  The title game was highlighted by one of the most impressive 
offensive showings in state history. Senior guard Leslie Hinkle poured 
in 40 points to lead the Panthers over Tarboro. ``I just played my 
best,'' Hinkle told The (Lexington, N.C.) Dispatch. ``I kept shooting, 
even when my shots weren't falling in the beginning. I also knew when 
my outside shots weren't falling, I could still penetrate and get to 
the basket.'' Named MVP for the championship, Hinkle was remarkable 
throughout the tournament. She scored 97 points in the final three 
games of the year. ``Leslie Hinkle was a very special player today,'' 
Head Coach John Ralls told The Dispatch.
  Coach Ralls should know something about special players. Ledford High 
has won four state titles under his tutelage--the others coming in 
1995, 1997 and 2000. ``This is the biggest team I've had,'' the Ledford 
coach told the Lexington newspaper, ``but we've got a lot of really 
good players. I don't really know if there is a best team, but this one 
has to rank as one of the best we've ever had.'' Coach Ralls knows it 
takes a total team effort to complete a magical perfect season. Joining 
him in that effort were his assistants Alan Patterson and David Sands.
  Each member of the Panthers did her part on the path to perfection. 
The squad includes Allyson David, Melissa Fitzgerald, Leslie Hinkle, 
Kristina Homesley, Jennifer McCarthy, Jamie Montsinger, Katelyn Moore, 
Kristi Pietsch, Katie Ralls, Mallory Recce, Megan Rogers, Alicia Stoke, 
and Jesse Taylor. Joining in the celebration are Principal Max Cole, 
Athletic Director Donald Palmer, the faculty, staff,students, and 
families of the perfect state champions, the Ledford Senior High 
Panthers.
  Believe it or not, the Sixth District is actually home to two 
basketball teams that achieved perfect records this year. West Rowan 
High School completed a remarkable 30-0 season by capturing the state 
3-A boys' championship. On March 16, the Falcons completed their dream 
season with an 80-68 victory over Winston-Salem Parkland High. West 
Rowan was led by title game MVP Donte Minter; Donte led the Falcons 
with 29 points in the championship game. What makes the feat all the 
more remarkable is that the left-handed senior was playing with a 
broken left wrist! Donte told the Salisbury Post that despite his 
injuries there were no doubts about the outcome. ``Never,'' Minter told 
the newspaper. ``Not at any point did we question ourselves. Here's all 
you need to know: as a team, we came to play tonight.''
  In fact, all season long the Falcons came to play. During their 
perfect season, West Rowan won every contest by double-digit margins. 
The championship game win culminated a four-year journey for Minter and 
Head Coach Mike Gurley. In Minter's freshman season, he and Gurley 
reached the title game against the same school, Winston-Salem Parkland, 
only to be defeated 101-83. Coach Gurley told the Salisbury Post, 
``Donte and I have cried a lot of tears together since that game. But 
when you have a successful program like ours, you're going to have some 
tough losses. Yeah, we've got some scars.''
  Now, however, they have a championship to savor, and they 
accomplished their goal of winning the title for retiring West Rowan 
Principal Henry Kluttz. The total team effort was led by Coach Gurley 
and his assistants Josh Avery, Willie Ellis and Robert Hairston. Each 
member of the squad contributed to the 30-0 season including Brian 
Avery, Horatio Everhart, Thomas ``T.J.'' Gaither, Jr., Junior Hairston, 
Joe Hartsell, Michael Johnson, Donte Minter, Brent Patterson, Darren 
Ramsey, Blake Scearce, Durrell White, Jason Williams, and Phillip 
Williams. Also contributing to the perfect season were managers Amber 
Dedoming, LaQuinta Ellerbe, Tamanche Rankin, trainer Larry Sides, and 
mascot Hayden Gurley. Congratulations to Principal Kluttz, Athletic 
Director William Ward, the faculty, staff, students and families of the 
other perfect state champions, the West Rowan Falcons.
  As I said earlier, the Sixth District was blessed to win other state 
titles, too. High Point Central High captured the girls' 3-A title, 
while Thomasville High secured its first ever girls' 1-A crown. Let's 
begin with a school that is used to winning--High Point Central. On 
March 16, the Lady Bison completed their title quest with a 56-53 win 
over Rockingham County High. The Central girls have won five state 
championship in the last 10 years. The Lady Bison came into this season 
with a perfect 30-0 record and almost matched it this year by finishing 
31-1. The final outcome was the same though as the Lady Bison brought 
home another crown to High Point Central.
  Leading the way was senior guard and title game MVP Leslie Cook who 
scored 22 points including the last five to secure the win. ``Those 
last couple of minutes seemed'' like they took forever,'' Cook told the 
High Point Enterprise. ``We were thrilled to survive,'' Head Coach 
Kenny Carter told the same newspaper. ``I told them, `championship 
teams will make big plays, and we made big ones when we had to.' ''
  The team made big plays all year en route to its latest title. 
Associate Coach Jetanna McClain and assistants Chris Martin, Chris 
Shafer and Dwain Waddell ably assisted Coach Carter. The members of the 
winning squad included Elizabeth Adkisson, Lakisha Bryant, Leslie Cook, 
Kathryn Fulp, Mary Gheen, Erica Green, Brittany Hendley, Shameka Leach, 
Jillian Martin, Krystion Obie, Brittany Tate, Teshymia Tillman, Nikki 
Warren, and Sara Wynne. Congratulations should also be shared by 
Principal Joe Yaegar, Athletic Director Gary Whitney, the faculty, 
staff, students and families of High Point Central High School.
  While High Point Central is used to winning girls' basketball 
championships, a school just down the road is still celebrating its 
first ever girls' basketball title. Thomasville High School won the 
state 1-A crown with a convincing 68-44 victory over Midway on March 
16. Maya Ray, who was named championship game MVP, told the High Point 
Enterprise that the first title is sweetest of all. ``Right now, it's 
just surreal,'' Ray told the newspaper. ``I'm overwhelmed. It's a 
feeling I can't explain. It's like I'm not even here right now. It's 
nice that it's us to say we were the first.''
  The first for Thomasville and one of the best ever. The Lady Dogs 
finished the year with a record of 28-3. While the outcome of the final 
game was never in doubt, when Midway cut the lead to 11 with 6:20 to 
go, Head Coach Eric Radar became worried as all coaches do. ``We were 
concerned,'' Coach Radar told the High Point Enterprise. ``We thought 
we sort of lost our edge. We started playing their style of game a 
little bit more than we had. We got a little complacent, and I thought 
we started looking at the scoreboard. Looking back, I'm glad that it 
happened, because our girls were able to do it twice. That shows how 
good a team this really can be.''
  The future is indeed bright for Thomasville High. As we close the 
books on this season, let's congratulate Coach Rader and his assistant 
Phil Apple. Each member of the Lady Dogs contributed to the title quest 
including Brittany Marsh, Erin Crowder, Impris Manning, Katie Myers, 
Kendra Rutledge, Lavonda Harriott, Lavinia Flowers, Maya Ray, Shae 
Harris, Shay Harris, Sheena Harriott, Sonya Madsen, and Tyronica 
Alford. Special thanks also go to managers Pat Jakson, Byron Lattimore 
and Jaz Tate, scorekeepers Sheena Jenkins and Keisha Alba, and video 
manager Kendra Sanders. Sharing in the glory are Principal Michael 
Allred, Athletic Director Woody Huneycutt, the faculty, staff, 
students, and families of Thomasville High School for winning its first 
ever girls' 1-A state basketball championship.
  All in all, Mr. Speaker, a remarkable high school basketball season 
in the Sixth District of North Carolina. At the beginning, I mentioned 
the University of Maryland winning the NCAA championship. I did so 
deliberately because there are two Sixth District connections there 
too. One of the assistant coaches is from Greensboro, North Carolina. 
Matt Kovarik, played for the Terrapins and just completed his first 
year as an assistant to Head Coach Gary Williams. More importantly, he 
played his high school ball at Grimsley High School in Greensboro. The 
entire athletic department is led by a woman from Gibsonville, North 
Carolina. Dr. Deborah Yow is the athletic director in College Park, and 
the Sixth District is proud that one of our own led Maryland to its 
first ever NCAA basketball championship. In addition to our high school 
champions, we are proud of Matt and Debbie, too.