Blackhawks stay perfect

Ron Counts, Staff Writer
Published: October 14, 2008

For years, Floyd T. Binns Middle School has been known for one thing, football.

The Blackhawks have been dominating competition on the gridiron since Stevie Strother was roaming the halls, but they aren’t the only stars this season.

The Binns girls basketball team improved to 14-0 Tuesday after defeating cross-town rival Culpeper Middle School 40-11.

“We have eight girls that put in a really good offseason,” Binns coach Elizabeth Summerson said. “We’ve been nothing but serious since day one of tryouts.”

The Lady Blackhawks certainly took Tuesday’s game seriously. They were up 19-2 at halftime thanks to a stingy defense and the play of eighth-grader Taylor Shank, who led the team with 14 points, two rebounds and two blocks.

Shank also got it done defensively, recording six steals. She stole a pass early in the first period and effortlessly heaved a long pass down the court to Tiara Jackson, who put the Blackhawks up 7-2 with a layup.

“Defense is something we have always focused on,” Summerson said. “A lot of times we’ll have a super slow offense, but our steals turn into our offense. As long as our defense is clicking we’ll be okay.”

Steals were the story of the game. At the beginning of the third period, Jackson nabbed one of her many steals at mid court and extended the Blackhawks’ lead to 21-2 with a textbook layup. She finished the game with six points and four rebounds.

“They have one of the best middle school teams I’ve seen in a long time,” CMS coach Janice Gillespie. “They have a really strong defense that traps the ball well.”

Even with a big lead, the Blackhawks’ defense didn’t let up in the second half. Shank blocked a shot from Culpeper’s Dominique Scott, took the ball down the court and put Binns up 24-2 with a layup.

On the ensuing play, Jackson recorded another steal, sprinted down the court and sunk a short-range jumper after missing her initial shot.

The Blackhawks haven’t really been pushed this season, but Summerson knows that she has to keep her girls grounded if they’re going to put the finishing touches on their perfect season.

“I tell the girls that we haven’t always been undefeated,” the second-year coach at Binns said. “We’ve been on the losing end before and we probably will be again, so we have to enjoy it while it lasts.”

Ron Counts can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 166 or