Wednesday, July 22, 1998
Cincinnati State basketball coach Gary McDaniel has seen a lot of talent pass through the program in his six seasons at the school. The 1998-99 squad will be no exception.
The Lady Surge recently signed three transfer student-athletes, two from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas and another from Indianapolis, to its program. McDaniel expects six-foot-one guard - forward, Vida Milberry, 5-8 small forward, Andrea Meeks and 5-4 point guard Dee Dee Amos to contribute right away. All come in as sophomores.
"I'm really excited about these kids," McDaniel said. And despite losing five players from last year's 30-4 10th-ranked team, McDaniel is confident his team can continue its winning ways. "I think we have a shot at being in the top 25 in the preseason ranking," he said.
The new additions could help fill a scoring void left by Rae Keith (now at Kentucky) and Lenora Combs (now at Wright State), who combined to average nearly 40 points per game last season.
"Vida is extremely versatile and can play anywhere from point guard to the power forward spot," McDaniel said. "She's a tremendous athlete."
Meeks, a high school track star, will bring experience to the lineup. The forward was a part of Coffeyville's national Sweet 16 team last year.
"Andrea is very athletic and can score as well as defend," McDaniel said.
McDaniel will look to Amos as a possible replacement for Keith at the point guard position.
"She's very quick and hard-nosed," he said. "She's also a very good shooter."
The team is already preparing for the season by participating in open gyms this summer.
TAE KWON DO CHAMP:
Eight-year-old Shayna Blankenship, a black belt in the martial art of Tae Kwon Do, won the gold medal in the sparring division at the 1998 U.S. Tae Kwon Do Junior Olympics National Championship in Orlando, Fla.
Blankenship, who will be a fourth grader at Loveland Intermediate, trains at the School of Little Fish in Milford under Mark Tuttle, a fourth-degree black belt.
Blankenship frequently practices against boys, including her 14-year-old brother, Tim, a second-degree black belt. She has competed for nearly four years.
"It was hard when I first started," Shayna said. "We had to do knuckle push-ups and I was only five."
The knuckle push-ups and hard work have paid off for Shayna, who is also a two-time defending state champion.
"When I was in Florida, we called everyone from our hotel and told them I won," Shayna said. "Everyone was happy and I earned $135."
SOFTBALL:
The Cincinnati Flames 19-and-under fast-pitch team, coached by Paul Martini, won the Ohio USSSA State Tournament July 11-12 in Hamilton.
The Flames went 5-1 in the tournament, including a 3-0 win over an undefeated Bowling Green, Ohio team. Preble Shawnee's Tyra Bowling pitched the four-hit shutout.
The team will travel to Highland, Ind. for the ASA Midwest Regionals Wednesday.
