Bunn Girls looking good!

November 19, 2009

Bunn High School

WORKING ON HER SHOT. Sophomore Marissa Bellamy practices her jumper Thursday afternoon at the Bunn Dome. (Times photo by Geoff Neville)

BUNN -- Head coach Chuck Mann is warning against the assumption that the future is now with the Bunn High School girls basketball program.

Certainly, the future looks bright for the Ladycats, who have one of their greatest backcourt tandems in history in the form of sophomore Chepirah Neal and freshman Whitney Bunn.

Neal and Bunn were nearly unstoppable two years ago at Bunn Middle School, and Neal was the high school team's leading scorer last season as ninth-grader.

And Whitney Bunn is already fielding offers from Division I colleges. It's stating the obvious to say that she will make an immediate impact this year for the Ladycats.

Mann, however, isn't about to start ordering championship banners. After all, the Ladycats were a sub-.500 team in 2008-09, going 10-12 while losing to Southwest Onslow in the first round of the Class 2-A State Girls Basketball Playoffs.

That's not to say that expectations will be much higher this time around. Mann just wants it to be known that baby steps -- not huge ones -- will be the order of the day for his current group.

One of the main reasons for that is the fact that Mann is still trying to find a supporting cast for his dynamic backcourt duo.

Keke Crudup is an exceptional returnee at the wing position, while Amanda Wright -- another wing -- has plenty of veteran experience.

Mann likes the potential of several of his inside players, but acknowledges that it may take another year or so for them to fully realize their potential.

"I think we are still too young,'' Mann said. "Our guard position will be fine. But I'm worried about the post positions right now. It's going to be a matter of how well we play inside -- that is going to determine our success.''

Mann understands the importance of developing an inside game to keep opposing defenses honest.

But his interior performers are either young or inexperienced -- or both.

Bunn's post options will include Tyla Ricks, Marissa Bellamy and Brianna Gatson.

Also expected to be in BHS' rotation are guard Kiatah Blalock and wing Ashley Denton.

Regardless of how BHS fares overall, the Ladycats will be fun to watch -- especially as Neal and Whitney Bunn continue to develop.

Neal was so good last year that, often times during games (much to Mann's dismay), older players often stood around, waiting for her to make a play.

Then there's Whitney Bunn, who arrives on campus as the school's most hyped freshman since the great Nakisha Stewart.

"Both girls are very good ballhandlers,'' Mann said. "Whoever ends up getting the ball in the backcourt will be the point guard on that play. We will definitely have them both on the floor a lot at the same time.

"They both make such good decisions with the ball. They will be a great complement to each other.

"I also think that, as a team, we will have a little more versatility than we did last year.''

Because of its backcourt potential -- along with some other returnees -- Bunn is expected to be a factor this season in the Northern Carolina Conference during Mann's second campaign in charge of the program.

The Ladycats will open Dec. 2 against Wilson Fike High School.