Senior relishes role of shutting down the opposition, silencing top scorers -- By Tommy Keeler Jr. (Daily Staff Writer)
WINCHESTER — Some players love to score points, knock down the game-winning shot and take in all the glory that comes with it.
Then, there's Sarah Bates.
There's nothing the Handley senior loves more than defending the other team's best player and shutting her down.
"I love playing against great players," Bates said earlier this week. "It gives me a challenge."
One of those challenges came two years ago, when Handley faced Harrisonburg, which was led by guard Kristi Toliver. In the first half, Toliver, who now plays at Maryland, lit up the Judges, even scoring 15 first-quarter points.
In the second half, coach Marvin Scott put Bates on Toliver. Bates held her to only two points in the second half and the Judges almost rallied from a large deficit before losing 64-56.
"That was an eye-opener," Bates said. "I remember [Toliver] hit one from around halfcourt when I was on her, right in my face. I had to step it up after that."
Handley (21-2) faces another challenge tonight when it plays host to Spotswood (16-9) in the Region II tournament quarterfinals. It will be the teams' third meeting this season; Spotswood won the first two.
This time, Handley is a different team — a healthy one. Bates broke her left pinkie in December and missed 11 games, including the second meeting of Handley and Spotswood.
"It was hard because I don't like watching," she said. "I love being out on the court."
Bates has played many sports — she won the Group AA 100-meter track title as a sophomore — but basketball is her first love. Senior guard Taryn Russ has been vital on offense, but there's no question who the leader is on the other end of the court.
"She's a gem," Scott said. "Her and Ashley Morgan are two of the most underrated players in the area. Bates causes so much havoc on defense. She shuts the other team's top player down.
"She's quick and she has speed. Some players have one or the other, but she has both in one bundle. She can take a gamble on defense and recuperate and not miss a beat."
Bates said her favorite memory on the basketball court came last year in the regional quarterfinals, but it didn't come on defense. Handley trailed Broad Run 56-53 with 1.2 seconds left; the Judges were looking for Morgan to take the game-tying shot.
With Morgan tightly guarded, Bates found herself wide open from behind the arc and banked in an off-balance 3-pointer to tie the game at the buzzer.
Bates thought she had missed the shot when it left her hands.
"I started to walk off the court and then I saw everyone in the stands going crazy and realized it went in," she said.
The Judges went on to win the game in overtime, advancing to the semifinals, where they lost to Charlottesville. After last year's frustration, Bates knows this season might be the team's best chance to earn a Group AA state tournament berth.
"This is our year," she said. "I really believe that. I think we can do it."
If the Judges get past the Trail Blazers, another familiar foe might be waiting the semifinals — Charlottesville. The Judges lost to the Black Knights three times last season.
If the Judges reach the semifinals, another challenge could be waiting for Bates. Charlottesville senior Andrea Barbour is considered the best player in Group AA; she will take her game to Virginia Tech next year.
"I guarded her last year," Bates said. "We played a pretty good game against them in regionals. She's a good player.
