Christ the King applies pressure -- but doesn't feel it.

Christ the King applies pressure -- but doesn't feel it
By Clay Kallam
Publisher

With 12 of 13 players returning from the 12th ranked team in the nation last year, including all five starters, it's not a surprise that Christ the King of New York is the Full Court Press choice for the top girls' team in the nation.

After all, there's that state championship last year. And the seven before that. And the three Division I players in the starting lineup.

So it would seem that all Coach Vince Canizaro and his players have to worry about is the pressure -- but you know, the Royals aren't even worried about that.

`Over the years we've been preseason number one before,' says Canizaro. `We've been ranked in the top 25 for the past eight years, so the kids are used to it.'

`Pressure?' said 5-9 point guard Sue Bird. `It's not really pressure. It's kind of an honor. It's not always fun to be the team people come after, but it makes you play harder.'

In fact, the pressure will push in the opposite direction. The harassing man-to-man that is Christ the King's trademark relies on pressure, and depth. `We put on as much pressure over a 32-minute period as we can,' says Canizaro. `We consider it pressure more than a press.'

It doesn't hurt that Canizaro can come at you in waves. `In the state championship game, we played 12 girls,' says Canizaro. `In the first half.'

And they will use a halfcourt man trap, or the occasional zone, but the Canizaro's plan is win with constant pressure. It's worked pretty well so far, as he is 360-53 in his 16 years at Christ the King -- a mark that should only improve this year.

Aside from Bird, who's being pursued by the University of Connecticut and Stanford, Canizaro can also call on 6-2 senior Maria Edwards, a quick, strong post player, and 6-0 senior Kathryn Fowler, who averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds a game last year.

`She's a leader,' says Bird of Fowler. `She makes big plays at big times.'

The other starters are expected to be 5-6 senior guard, and three-point specialist, Mary Kacic and 5-9 senior Gillian McGovern, but Canizaro has no plans to change his play-everybody strategy.

And with a possible national championship at the end of the rainbow, the Royals are ready to roll. `The program motivates the players to work hard,' says Canizaro. `Our players push each other very hard in practice. The competition starts with the players themselves.'

And countering the stereotype of the high school coach who screams and bullies, Canizaro calls himself `laid-back, California-style.' Bird agrees. `He's not really a yeller and screamer. If he knows you have talent, he expects you to use it.'

His team has talent this season, and they'll have to use it to handle a bruising preseason schedule that includes a trip to California and numerous high-profile opponents. And Our Lady of the Lords in Poughkeepsie and Shenandoah in Albany are expected to challenge for the state title.

That, at least, will be decided on the floor. National champs are crowned by media folks who seldom see more than a few of the top 50 teams -- but Canizaro thinks the ratings are worthwhile.

`There is some validity in the rankings,' Canizaro says. `When you have major programs that play national-type schedules, it makes some sense.'

And it definitely makes sense to start Christ the King out in the top spot, given the Royals' record and lineup. Whether they'll end the season there is another story -- but with tradition, talent and experience on their side, it's clear it's going to take a very special team to beat Christ the King this season.

9/13/97