jeffpatterson
03-12-2008, 10:41 PM
Panther rejoices in Samuel's ‘D’
This singing star and cheerleading standout is playing suffocating defense for Bruton.
By MARTY O’BRIEN | mobrien@dailypress.com | 247-4963
YORK — Shariece Samuel has sung before thousands as the opening act for nationally known artists. She’s flipped acrobatically through the air hundreds of times as a competition cheerleader.
But no adrenaline rush she’s experienced matches what she’ll face today. Samuel says that playing for Bruton High in the Group AA girls basketball state tournament is as thrilling as it gets.
The Panthers (22-6) face Waynesboro (25-3) at 6 tonight in the semifinals at the Siegel Center in Richmond. A win sends them into Saturday’s final.
“This is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me, because it’s once in a lifetime,” said Samuel, a 5-foot-3 senior.
That speaks volumes about her love for basketball because Samuel is not a star.
Defense is her calling card.
Samuel is as good a defender as there is in the Bay Rivers District, and her man-to-man defense was crucial to the Panthers’ biggest victories this season. But being a top-flight defender wasn’t enough to land her a spot on the all-district team.
By contrast, in her other endeavors, cheerleading and music, few area high school students are as accomplished. Samuel has been selected the district’s top cheerleader two consecutive seasons.
Funny thing is, she hated cheerleading while growing up. Then, when she entered high school, she realized the sport was the perfect venue to utilize all of the hours spent in dance and gymnastics as a child.
So she dances and tumbles and, as a flyer, somersaults through the air from on high. She’ll continue to do so after high school on scholarship for Mississippi Community College in Gulfport.
“I didn’t even know you could get a scholarship in cheerleading until this year,” she said. “Then I sent some tapes out and coaches started calling.”
She’s been writing lyrics and recording rhythm-and-blues songs since age 10 under the moniker “Lil’ Shug.” Shug is her nickname, short for sugar. She’ll finish her second album this year.
Samuel was 13 when her three older brothers — Roemel, Lamarr and Demario — produced her debut album. Her siblings sold 500 copies of the CD — titled “Lil’ Shug’s Life” — while on the road promoting their clothing line.
That’s led to numerous live gigs during the past 4½ years. The list of artists she’s opened for includes Mario, Aaron Carter, Soulja Boy and Monica.
“I never get nervous,” Samuel says of singing before huge crowds. “I’m a little nervous before I go out. But when I’m singing, it’s exciting, people are having fun and I’m enjoying myself.”
One of her favorite songs from her first CD is titled “Basketball.” The chorus goes: “I love basketball, you love basketball, we play basketball, so can we baaaaalllll?”
When Samuel “balls,” her focus is on defending. Her 9.5 scoring average is second on the Panthers, but many of her points are the result of her seven steals per game.
Like singing or cheerleading, she’s good at defending because she loves it. Panthers coach Wayne Burnette says Samuel possesses all the traits needed to be a good defender — quick hands and feet, boundless energy and, especially, competitiveness.
Samuel said she likes nothing better than hearing Burnette say the Panthers are going to play a box-and-one defense. That means she’s going to go head-to-head with the opposition’s top scorer.
“When I know it’s just you and me, I’m thinking, ‘No, you’re not going to touch the ball,’ ” Samuel said.
The Panthers trailed 42-31 at halftime of the regional semifinal against James Monroe, when Burnette assigned Samuel to cover Bilnita Armstead. Armstead had scored 25 points in the first half. Samuel held her scoreless in the second half, and the Panthers rallied to win 57-50 to earn their state tournament berth.
“Shariece was relentless,” Burnette said. “Her presence just seemed to irritate (Armstead). You could see that she was annoyed because she couldn’t get her shot.
“Shariece takes away the offensive player’s comfort zone.”
She’ll do that by denying the pass, limiting the space her opponent has to shoot or by stealing the ball. Samuel had six steals during a late 22-4 run the Panthers used to rally from 15 points behind in beating Charlottesville 49-46 in the state quarterfinals.
The Panthers sealed the win in the final seconds, when Samuel forced Charlottesville star Shawntae Payne into two off-balance 3-point attempts that missed badly.
Samuel said she wouldn’t trade the satisfaction she gets from playing defense for the glory of a 20-point scoring average. She can sing or fly through the air like an angel, but she’s no self-centered diva.
“Scoring doesn’t matter to me as long as I play my role to help the team win,” she said. “Defense wins games and defense wins championships.
“It’s the key to everything.”
This singing star and cheerleading standout is playing suffocating defense for Bruton.
By MARTY O’BRIEN | mobrien@dailypress.com | 247-4963
YORK — Shariece Samuel has sung before thousands as the opening act for nationally known artists. She’s flipped acrobatically through the air hundreds of times as a competition cheerleader.
But no adrenaline rush she’s experienced matches what she’ll face today. Samuel says that playing for Bruton High in the Group AA girls basketball state tournament is as thrilling as it gets.
The Panthers (22-6) face Waynesboro (25-3) at 6 tonight in the semifinals at the Siegel Center in Richmond. A win sends them into Saturday’s final.
“This is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me, because it’s once in a lifetime,” said Samuel, a 5-foot-3 senior.
That speaks volumes about her love for basketball because Samuel is not a star.
Defense is her calling card.
Samuel is as good a defender as there is in the Bay Rivers District, and her man-to-man defense was crucial to the Panthers’ biggest victories this season. But being a top-flight defender wasn’t enough to land her a spot on the all-district team.
By contrast, in her other endeavors, cheerleading and music, few area high school students are as accomplished. Samuel has been selected the district’s top cheerleader two consecutive seasons.
Funny thing is, she hated cheerleading while growing up. Then, when she entered high school, she realized the sport was the perfect venue to utilize all of the hours spent in dance and gymnastics as a child.
So she dances and tumbles and, as a flyer, somersaults through the air from on high. She’ll continue to do so after high school on scholarship for Mississippi Community College in Gulfport.
“I didn’t even know you could get a scholarship in cheerleading until this year,” she said. “Then I sent some tapes out and coaches started calling.”
She’s been writing lyrics and recording rhythm-and-blues songs since age 10 under the moniker “Lil’ Shug.” Shug is her nickname, short for sugar. She’ll finish her second album this year.
Samuel was 13 when her three older brothers — Roemel, Lamarr and Demario — produced her debut album. Her siblings sold 500 copies of the CD — titled “Lil’ Shug’s Life” — while on the road promoting their clothing line.
That’s led to numerous live gigs during the past 4½ years. The list of artists she’s opened for includes Mario, Aaron Carter, Soulja Boy and Monica.
“I never get nervous,” Samuel says of singing before huge crowds. “I’m a little nervous before I go out. But when I’m singing, it’s exciting, people are having fun and I’m enjoying myself.”
One of her favorite songs from her first CD is titled “Basketball.” The chorus goes: “I love basketball, you love basketball, we play basketball, so can we baaaaalllll?”
When Samuel “balls,” her focus is on defending. Her 9.5 scoring average is second on the Panthers, but many of her points are the result of her seven steals per game.
Like singing or cheerleading, she’s good at defending because she loves it. Panthers coach Wayne Burnette says Samuel possesses all the traits needed to be a good defender — quick hands and feet, boundless energy and, especially, competitiveness.
Samuel said she likes nothing better than hearing Burnette say the Panthers are going to play a box-and-one defense. That means she’s going to go head-to-head with the opposition’s top scorer.
“When I know it’s just you and me, I’m thinking, ‘No, you’re not going to touch the ball,’ ” Samuel said.
The Panthers trailed 42-31 at halftime of the regional semifinal against James Monroe, when Burnette assigned Samuel to cover Bilnita Armstead. Armstead had scored 25 points in the first half. Samuel held her scoreless in the second half, and the Panthers rallied to win 57-50 to earn their state tournament berth.
“Shariece was relentless,” Burnette said. “Her presence just seemed to irritate (Armstead). You could see that she was annoyed because she couldn’t get her shot.
“Shariece takes away the offensive player’s comfort zone.”
She’ll do that by denying the pass, limiting the space her opponent has to shoot or by stealing the ball. Samuel had six steals during a late 22-4 run the Panthers used to rally from 15 points behind in beating Charlottesville 49-46 in the state quarterfinals.
The Panthers sealed the win in the final seconds, when Samuel forced Charlottesville star Shawntae Payne into two off-balance 3-point attempts that missed badly.
Samuel said she wouldn’t trade the satisfaction she gets from playing defense for the glory of a 20-point scoring average. She can sing or fly through the air like an angel, but she’s no self-centered diva.
“Scoring doesn’t matter to me as long as I play my role to help the team win,” she said. “Defense wins games and defense wins championships.
“It’s the key to everything.”