Full Court Press 2011

Full-Court PRESS

2009 2011 A SUPPLEMENT TO THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE

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Full-Court Press 2011 3

Prescription For Caring

By John Harvey WILLIAMSBURG —Nikia Canady’s mother once told her she was destined to be a doctor because of how she cared about others.

That was in the fifth grade.

Earlier this month, Canady took a step toward fulfilling her mother’s prediction when she was accepted into Virginia Commonwealth University, where she will study in hopes of becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon.

The Lafayette High senior faced her first medical test months ago when she learned her mother, Fay, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of all cancer deaths. In 2010, more than 43,000 cases were diagnosed. There were 36,800 deaths from the disease.

Nikia’s mother was diagnosed last November when doctors discovered a tumor.

“I was the last to know that my mother had cancer,” Nikia said in a recent interview. “I knew she was sick, but I didn’t know to what degree. My sister knew, but my mother asked her not to tell me.”

Two days later, Nikia said her mother finally broke the news.

“I tried my hardest not to cry, because I didn’t want her to comfort me,” Nikia said. “I thought I should be doing that for her. But I cried, and got angry because of it. At the same time, it was so unreal to me.”

The last few years have been rough for Nikia and her family. In December 2009 a fire destroyed the family home on Strawberry Plains.

“I remember walking into the house with a flashlight, and all I could see was black soot everywhere,” Nikia recalled. “It really hit me when I went in my room and saw all the damage.”

The Canady family lived in a hotel for three months, then moved to a new two-story house in the same neighborhood.

Nikia said that tragedy made their family stronger. “It was pretty hard sharing such a little space, but my mother’s attitude forced us to see the positive side,” she recalled. “In the end, it brought us closer together.”

Growing up in a single-parent household, the bond has always been strong between Nikia and her mother.

“Her strength is amazing,” Nikia said. “She’s kind, considerate, wise and selfless. No matter what fate throws at her, she is able to withstand it with a smile on her face.”

“She taught me that no one should be able to rip away your pride, and that sometimes you have to know when to let go of situations out of your control and never look back,” she continued. “Once something is done, you move on and learn from it.

Experience brings about wisdom.

As I grow into an adult, I’m grateful I can see her characteristics and morals instilled in myself.”

Nikia’s faith was tested anew with the cancer diagnosis. “The survival rate for this cancer is 5 percent,” Nikia said. “Usually it is terminal, but it depends on the patient.”

In Fay’s case, the tumor was detected fairly early and will eventually be surgically removable. Fay has undergone several rounds of grueling chemotherapy in the hopes of shrinking the tumor and there has been some encouraging progress.

“She is getting better,” Nikia said.

“Her tumor is actually shrinking, so they are going to keep doing the treatments to see if more progress can be made.”

Medication to combat the disease is costly. Fay takes more than a half dozen pills daily including blood thinner medication. Nikia estimates the medicine costs about $90 per month.

With her mom ill, Nikia has helped assumed the role of financial provider for the family. On weekdays, she divides her time between working at Coldstone Creamery and Green Leafe Cafe. On Sundays, she

Photo by Jim Agnew/williamsburg sportspics.com

Cancer brings family closer together

Nikia Canady’s and her mom Fay, have a special bond.

pulls a 12-hour shift.

“When I get off, I usually pick up a few things for my mom, and keep her company until we are both tired,” she said.

Despite the distractions, Canady has found solace in athletics.

“Basketball is the greatest escape,” she said. “For 32 minutes, I tune out the world. My teammates are like my sisters. They know and understand what I’m going through, and they provide time for me to clear my head. It keeps me from going insane.”

Nikia isn’t a stranger to Full-Court Press. She participated in each of the first three events. This year she’s the recipient.

“It’s the basketball atmosphere that I love without the pressure,” she

said. “The pressure is a part of the game, but it’s nice to do what you love in a more relaxed setting.”

Canady believes the challenges she has faced in her personal life have helped prepare her for the future.

“I never take her for granted anymore,” she said. “I am thankful for every moment I get to spend with her. I do not stay angry long because life is short. I never realized how much life could change in just a blink of an eye.

“My ultimate goal is to take each day and cherish it,” Nikia continued.

“To remain strong for my mother and help her to fight the battles that she is too weak to fight on her own.

We’ve been through a lot and we certainly won’t let this hold us down.”

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4 Full-Court Press 2011

How it works Teams vie for playoffs, but did you ever wonder which high school has the best individual basketball talent?

The Virginia Gazette is giving athletes an opportunity to prove who’s best with the 4th annual Full-Court Press basketball showcase.

The event debuts Thursday, March 31, Lafayette High School. Gates open at 6 p.m.

The competition begins an hour later.

The high school showcase will feature boys and girls basketball players from Bruton, Jamestown, Lafayette, Walsingham Academy, Warhill and Williamsburg Christian Academy in a hoops skills competition. Participatnts from Hampton Roads Academy, Grafton and Tabb are also scheduled to perform.

The event parallels one put on by the NBA during all-star weekend.

Competition extends to boys and girls.

■ Players have a minute to make three-point shots from the arc.

■ A two-ball shoot will team a boy and girl from the same school trying to score from designated spots on the floor in a minute.

■ A slam dunk competition will be graded by a panel of judges.

Proceeds from the event will benefit a student in need who was selected from nominations by participating schools.

Boys Three-Point Shootout Competitors will have one minute to work their way around the three-point arc, shooting five times from five different stations on the court.

Each basket is worth one point, with the last ball in each rack, i.e. “the money ball”, worth two points.

The Top 2 shooters in the finals will move on to the finals.

Walsingham Academy’s Brandon LaRose won last year’s inaugural competition.

Here’s a look at this year’s contestants: ■ Billy Barnes — Barnes developed into one of the top sixth-men in the Tidewater Conference for Walsingham this year, particularly from three-point land.

■ Jacye Beck — The 6-foot-6 Walsingham Academy forward can knock down shot from distance with the best in the area.

■ Corey Brown — There aren’t many places on the floor that the Walsingham Academy product can’t score from. The 1,000-point scorer can really stroke it from behind the arc.

■ Kai Brown — The freshman guard was instant office for Bruton off the bench this season and can score points in bunches.

■ Mike Brown — Brown is a terrific spot-up shooter that was one of Lafayette’s top threats from behind the arc.

■ J.T. Castner — Castner is an underrated shooter than has the ability to fill it up from downtown.

■ Cy Cole — The Tabb High southpaw emerged as one of the top three-point threats in the Bay Rivers.

■ Jacary Crew — Crew was a key reserve for Warhill this year, especially from behind the arc.

■ Jake Duncan — Duncan developed into a top-notch threat from down for Williamsburg Christian Academy.

■ Kenneth Fields — Fields blossomed into a bonafide scorer for Jamestown this year, showing range from inside and outside.

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■ John Fitchett — The Lafayette High product earned all-district honors for his ability to score points in bunches for Lafayette.

■ Christian Kinney — Kinney is a versatile performer for Lafayette that can knock down shots from anywhere on the floor.

■ Miguel Kisson — Kisson was a sparkplug off the bench for Walsingham this year and gave them another talented shooter.

■ Matthew Koehler — Koehler is a big man for Warhill that isn’t afraid to shoot the ball from distance.

■ Brandon LaRose — The defending three-point champ, LaRose is coming off his best season at Walsingham.

■ Leo Legaspi — Legaspi was Bruton’s most consistent threat from three-point land this season.

■ Reggie Lipscomb — The freshman didn’t play school ball, but is a terrific athlete that knows how to make plays.

■ Robbie Panasuk — Panasuk was among the top threepoint shooters for a Grafton team that won the Bay Rivers tournament.

■ Deron Powers — Powers led Williamsburg Christian in scoring and was the team’s top sharp-shooter from three-point range.

■ Karl Reid — Reid was a top three-point shooter for Jamestown High off the bench this year.

■ Cole Sanderson — Sanderson led Walsingham’s junior varsity in scoring and three-point shooting.

■ Dylan Sneddon — Sneddon turned in a great campaign for Warhill’s junior varsity, and is an underrated scorer.

■ Colton St. Cyr — St. Cyr led Lafayette High in threepoint shooting and was one of the top long-distance threats in the Bay Rivers.

■n Chris Tang — Tang stormed onto the scene as a top scorer for Hampton Roads Academy, particularly from three-point land.

Full-Court Press 2011 5

girls Three-Point Shootout Competitors will have one minute to work their way around the three-point arc, shooting five times from five different stations on the court.

Each basket is worth one point, with the last ball in each rack, i.e. “the money ball”, worth two points.

The Top 2 shooters in the first round advance to the championship round.

Last year’s champion was Hampton Roads Academy’s Caitlyn Unsworth.

Here’s a list of this year’s competitors: ■ Ashley Barnes — Barnes was a pleasant surprise for a rebuilding Walsingham team. She has great basketball instincts and is a pure shooter.

■ Libby Bland — Bland was a lateseason call-up to Lafayette’s varsity, but excited coaches with her ability to shoot the basketball.

■ Keyana Brown — The Metro Conference Player of the Year of the proved she can score from anywhere on the floor this season for Williamsburg Christian.

■ Sherlanda Buskey — Buskey blossomed into an all-district performer for Jamestown this season. She is a streaky shooter that has great range from the perimeter.

■ Krista Ferrell — Ferrell developed into a team leader for Lafayette and is a threat from three-point land.

■ Alexxis Jones — Jones turned in a solid season for Lafayette and was one of the team’s top three-point threats.

■ Rose Mulherin — Mulherin led Grafton to a state tournament appearance.

The senior led the team in three-pointers and is one to watch.

■ Alexis Petrin — Petrin has won this competition before and has the knack for getting hot from behind the three-point arc for Warhill.

■ Tonika Pierce — Pierce led Williamsburg Christian in three-pointers en route to all-Metro conference honors.

■ Brittany Speed — Speed led Warhill in three-pointers and was among the Bay Rivers top sharp-shooters.

■ Caitlyn Unsworth — The defending champion, Unsworth is a pure shooter than can score from anywhere on the floor.

■ Amber Warner — Warner joined the 1,000-point club at Bruton and led the team in scoring for the third straight year.

■ Lizzie Wilcox — Wilcox led Lafayette in three-pointers and has the ability to get hot from behind the arc.

Two-ball championship The two-ball competition is a shooting contest with a male and female on the same team.

The teams get one balland one minute to score as many points as possible.

Each team must shoot from every spot on the floor, or they will be assessed a 10point penalty.

Players must alternate shots with the other player in charge of rebounding for their teammates. Each spot on the floor is awarded a different point value.

Warhill’s Alexis Petrin and Adrin Magbag won last year’s competition.

The list of competitors include: Lafayette’s Alexxis Jones & Michael Brown Grafton’s Morgan Heath & Robbie Panasuk Williamsburg Christian’s Tonika Pierce & Deron Powers Lafayette’s Lizzie Wilcox & Deron Powers Lafayette’s Nikia Canady & Marcus Paige Jamestown’s Sherlanda Buskey & Karl Reid Warhill’s Alexis Petrin & Andrew Berkley

Hampton Roads Academy’s Caitlyn Unsworth & Chris Tang Walsingham’s Jayce Beck & Ashley Barnes Bruton’s Amber Warner & Leo Legaspi Williamsburg Christian’s Keyana Brown & Jake Duncan Jamestown’s Aaliyah Lyttle & Demetric Radcliffe Warhill’s Alex Kessinger & Daniel Green Jamestown’s Samantha McLaughlin & Keenan Gasway

Warhill’s Alexis Petrin and Adrin Magbag.

6 Full-Court Press 2011

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Each slam dunk competitor will get three opportunities to dunk in the first round.

Competitors will be allowed 60 seconds for each dunk.

Each dunk will receive a score from a panel of judges and competitors will be allotted one miss without penalty.

This year’s competition will be divided into three sections, with the highest scorer of each of the rounds moving on to the finals.

Lafayette’s Dewayne Johnson won last year’s event.

Here’s a list of this year’s competitors.

■ Marcus Brooks — Brooks was an impact player off the bench for a young, but talented Warhill squad. Look for the southpaw to generate plenty of interest with his high-flying theatrics.

■ Corey Brown — Brown was a do-everything player for Walsingham Academy’s basketball team this year. The junior guard has the skill and creativity to be a factor in this event.

■ Chauncey Burgazli — Lafayette’s Dewayne Johnson won last year’s Burgazli was a presence in the middle for Bruton High’s basket- event. ball team. Look for the big man ■ Christian Kinney — Kinney proto bring the crowd to its feet with his size vided plenty of energy off the bench for and power.

Lafayette this season. He has the strength ■ Kenneth Fields — Fields emerged and will to do some amazing things on as one of the top young talents in the Bay the floor.

Rivers this season. The sophomore’s com■ Deron Powers — Powers has bination of size and agility make’s him a arguably been the best high school player contender in this competition. in greater Williamsburg the last two years.

■ John Fitchett — Fitchett was The Williamsburg Christian product has a arguably Lafayette’s most consistent knack for thriving in an event like this. player this season. Look for the 6-foot-2 ■ Karl Reid — Reid was a force for sophomore to surprise some people at Jamestown High off the bench this season.

Full-Court Press.

The senior has terrific size and a great ■ Avery Jacobs — Jacobs earned vertical leap that could put him in the mix more and more playing time for Lafayette for the title. off the bench as the season continued.

■ Thomas Smith — Smith is probaHe has great size and leaping ability and bly the best athlete at Lafayette High. The could be a factor. junior has the size and strength to make ■ Dewayne Johnson — Johnson every dunk a highlight reel. captured the 2010 Slam Dunk title by ■ Chris Tang — Tang recorded his jumping over a fellow player. Look for first dunk as a sixth-grader. The Hampton more surprises out of the Lafayette High Roads Academy product has the leaping product on his home court ability and creativity to bring a crowd to ■ Brandon LaRose — LaRose was a their feet. finalist in last year’s dunk contest, despite ■ Austin Williamson — Injuries cut an injured knee. The Walsingham product Williamson’s basketball season short this is eager for another shot at bringing home season at Jamestown. The senior would the crown. love to make up for it with a slam dunk title.

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