King Women's Coach Celebrates Birthday With First Win Of Season

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Crista Burtnett and her friends on the King College basketball team faced some pressure Wednesday.

The Tornado had opened the season with eight straight losses and were facing city rival Virginia Intermont.

There was also the matter of a post-game birthday party for their head coach, Michele Williams.

“We’ve known that this was her birthday for a while,” Burtnett said. “We had planned on having cake and ice cream either way, but the taste is a lot sweeter now.”

King can credit its defense for the 60-49 win over the Cobras.

Relying on a blend of man-to-man and matchup zone looks, the Tornado held VI to a 23-percent success rate from the field in the first half en route to a 31-16 lead.

“I told my players at halftime that it was the best defensive half we’ve had all year,” Williams said. “I truly believe that defense wins games.”

Those King players celebrated with their 31-year-old coach after the victory.

King (1-8, 1-2) graduated five seniors off last year’s Appalachian Athletic Conference championship team. The Tornado is also playing without sophomore post Anisha Buchanan, who was ruled academically ineligible for the fall semester.

The seven newcomers on the King roster meshed at the perfect time Wednesday.

“That was the best birthday present,” Williams said.
“It’s hard when you’ve got a bunch of new kids and you play a tough schedule.
“You just have to stay positive and keep encouraging the players. This was a much needed win for everybody.”

The Cobras (2-7, 2-1) entered the night tied for the first in the AAC with wins over traditional power Tennessee Wesleyan and Bluefield.

While VI chopped the King advantage to 56-49 with one minute left to play, the Cobras were doomed by their 19 turnovers and cold start. VI connected on just 31 percent of it field goals for the game.

“We shot well and played together in our win over Wesleyan,” third-year VI coach Jaclyn Dickens said.
“You could tell the intensity and desire was there for us in the second half tonight. We wanted to fight back, but it was too late.”

Aggressive senior guard Autumn Arney led VI with 15 points, while 5-foot-10 freshman forward Nicole Collins supplied 12 rebounds and 10 points.

Collins led her Oak Hill Academy team, which featured a pair of NCAA Division I recruits, in scoring and rebounding.

“We need to do a better job of taking care of the ball and going after rebounds,” Dickens said. “One person would hit a shot, then we couldn’t put it together.”

Burtnett feels the cohesion process is gradually developing for the new-look Tornado. Leaders for King Wednesday included senior guard Kristi Moody (18 points), 5-9 sophomore forward Ashley Deans (11 points) and the 5-9 Burnett (11 rebounds.)

Burtnett and Moody are the lone senior regulars for King.

“It’s been a very frustrating start for everybody,” said Burtnett, who averages eight points per game. “We had to get to know each other and learn how we all play.
“It’s starting to click know. We’re becoming a team instead of a group of individuals.”

According to her coach, Burtnett has supplied the intangibles for King.

“Every team that Krista has ever played on, she’s been that kid that does all the little things like get rebounds and hustle,” Williams said. “This season, Krista had had to carry some of the scoring load and I’m really pleased with how she’s responded.”

Eight players earned at least 14 minutes of playing time for King.

“I kept telling our girls that we would be fine if we could just get that first win,” Williams said. “Now we can just relax and keep improving.”

As for her birthday celebration, Williams said the victory, cake and ice cream would suffice.

“I’m just going to rest now and try to get my voice back,” Williams said.

agregory@bristolnews.com (276) 645-2544

VA. INTERMONT (49)
Odle 1-10 0-0 3, Collins 3-14 4-5 10, Newman 2-12 1-4 4, Arney 6-12 0-0 15, M. Arnold 4-7 0-0 8, Brown 0-2 0-0 0, Whitaker 0-0 0-0 0, Grimm 4-4 0-0 8, Shockley 0-2 1-2 1. Totals 20-63 7-9 49.

KING (60)
Burtnett 2-6 3-4 7, Deans 4-9 3-4 11, Raby 3-8 0-2 6, Moody 7-18 3-5 18, Tharpe 2-10 1-2 6, Ball 0-3 0-0 0, Treadway 2-4 0-0 6, Bosse 1-2 2-2 4, Elliott 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 21-61 14-21 60.
Halftime-King 31-16. 3-point goals-VI 2-15 (Odle, Arney), King 4-16 (Moody, Tharpe, Treadway 2). Assists-VI 8 (Newman 4), King 11 (Raby 4). Rebounds-VI 34 (Collins 12), King 40 (Burtnett 11).
Total fouls-VI 19, King 9. Fouled out-none.