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IN THE LINE OF FIRE: Finding success at free throws is a moving target

Frequently at the end of practice, L.C. Bird High boys basketball coach Chuck Tester requires his players to make free throws before they can go home.

The starting point is 10 made. For every foul shot missed, another is added.

"That means you've got to be over 50 percent," he said. "Some kids take a while."

Tester has coached boys and girls basketball in high school for 27 years. His contention -- backed by coaches and players -- is that when it comes to the foul line, both sexes are practicing the wedding vow: for better or worse.

Guys have gotten worse, especially because the focus on the 3-point shot has taken away from inside play and drives to the basket. Girls have gotten better because greater emphasis on the sport has led to improved skill levels.

Perception, or reality?

No national statistics are available before the high school 3-point shot was instituted in 1987-88, so there's nothing comparative. The National Federation of State High School Associations has, however, done limited state surveys since 1994-95.

Those surveys show boys free-throw shooting has been fairly steady in the 64-66 percent range. The girls side has fluctuated a little more but has shown a slight increase from the high 50s to the low 60s.

The number of games reported to the NFSHSA was extremely small, but John Gillis, the organization's assistant director, believes they mirror the national average.

The Times-Dispatch took an unscientific local sample that showed free-throw shooting was worse on both sides. The newspaper examined the free-throw totals from area prep boys and girls games last week. In 66 boys games, the total made was 57.6 percent (1,353 for 2,347). In 50 girls games, the total made was 51.6 percent (815-1,580).

Most coaches consider about 70 percent a good night at the foul line. While there is mental pressure with which to deal and sometimes fatigue, a free throw is, after all, an uncontested shot, and you're standing still.

"Free throws are the same shot every time: 15 feet away, 10 feet high," said Mills Godwin junior guard Bobby Foley, a 78.7 percent career free-throw shooter. "The more you get in the gym and practice, the better you're going to be. But people aren't putting in the time anymore."

That's an area of the boys game where coaches don't need statistics to back up what they see. Free throws don't register "style" points or impress the crowd, so players don't spend as much time working on them.

"Twenty or 30 years ago, if you were a high percentage free-throw shooter, it was something to be proud of," said Clover Hill coach Ron Carr, who has coached in college at Longwood and Lynchburg. "Now they work on the crossover dribble or [a 3-pointer or] a dunk, and they take pride in that."

Several area coaches estimated about 20-25 percent of a season's games are won or lost because of foul shots -- and not always just at the end of a game, when they're magnified.

They also admit they don't spend a lot of time working on them in practice. Time is limited because of the number of boys and girls teams being crammed into the gym. Emphasis is on team drills first.

Becoming a better free-throw shooter, Douglas Freeman coach Larry Parpart says, needs to be accomplished individually in the offseason.

Curt Kassab's girls teams at Atlee are known for their precision passing and perimeter shooting. The Raiders won a state Group AAA title in 2002-03 despite shooting in the low 60s at the foul line.

They are shooting 50 percent from the field this season but just 59 percent from the line.

"We work on foul shooting, don't get me wrong," Kassab said. "But if we shoot 50 percent, it's not a point of emphasis. I always tell them we're going to have some good shooting nights and some bad, but there's no excuse for not playing defense."

Manchester senior forward Melanie Oliver gets to the foul line almost six times a game. She's shooting 47 percent. She has had one game this season where she made 10 of 12, so she knows she's capable.

"I'm a little above below-average," she said. "It depends on what kind of night I'm having. If I'm playing bad, I'm not going to be good [at the line]. If I'm hot, it's going to be a good night.

"Probably if I worked on my free throws before and after practice, I'd be better. People who shoot free throws well, they've probably been working."

For the most part, the girls game does not yet seem to have been influenced by the "look-good" factor. Dunks still are rare. And while 3-pointers have become more prevalent, they're generally not the focus.

Tester says girls have become better standstill shooters than guys, which helps them at the foul line. They also have a smaller ball to clear the 18-inch diameter of the hoop ring. Men's basketballs are 29½-30 inches in circumference. Women's basketballs are 28½-29 inches.

Despite the low free-throw shooting numbers for girls in the area last week, Louise Foley, Mills Godwin's girls coach and mother of Bobby Foley, agrees with the increasing national trend.

"Where will it plateau?" she said. "I don't know. We keep saying it's getting more like the guys' game. I hope it doesn't get too [much like it]."

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Prep Girls Player of the Week:
LAUREN FOLEY
DOUGLAS FREEMAN H.S.

Vitals: 6-0 junior forward
Last week: Foley averaged 18.3 points as second-ranked Douglas Freeman opened its season with three victories, including a 51-34 win over fourth-ranked Monacan. She averaged 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists and shot 56 percent from the field.
Coach's quote: "She's definitely one of the better players I've coached as far as knowledge of the game. She's a tremendous worker. She'll probably be one of the candidates for player of the year. She can rebound, she can play the point and get assists, and she can score. She's certainly starting to generate a lot of interest from colleges." - Avery McGilvary.
Age: 16
How she describes herself: "I just like to have fun, but I want to get the job done. I'm a team player who will step up if that's what my team needs me to do."
Other activities: She's part of the leadership center at Freeman, the history club and the Rebelettes, a community-service club.
Biggest challenge: "Finding time for everything between school and basketball and social things."
Best piece of advice: "Great players are rarely satisfied, but satisfied players are rarely great." From her father, Bob, a former women's basketball coach at the University of Richmond.
Toughest opponent: "I'm always harder on myself than anyone else might be."
Strengths: "I work hard. That's gotten me a lot of places. As a basketball player, I guess my shooting and knowing the game. I've been around it so long, it's kind of second nature."
On her father: "Working with him has helped my game so much. He knows all the little details to help bring your game to the next level."
Goals: Wants to play Division I basketball, as long as the school is the right fit. "This year I don't really care about me. I want the team to go as far as we can. If I play a key role, great."
fdffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff- Tim Pearrell

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Disrespectful Daughter?
There's a good chance Freeman's Foley will ignore instructions in showdown with rival Godwin

Here's something unusual: A coach is going public with a unique game plan for shackling an upcoming opponent.

Mills Godwin High girls basketball coach Louise Foley said she is confident she can slam the brakes on one of the area's top players: Douglas Freeman's Lauren Foley.

"I think I'm going to ground her," said the Eagles coach, holding back a giggle. "I'll let her go to school, but then she won't be allowed out Friday night."

Here's the kicker. Louise Foley, the first-year Godwin coach, also serves in the capacity of mother of Freeman All-Metro star Lauren Foley, the reigning Colonial District player of the year.

So, does daughter Foley known how to counter mom's ploy?

"I'm not worried; my dad's got my back," Lauren responded with a laugh.

Tonight figures to be quite an evening for the all-about-hoops Foley family of western Henrico.

"It's pretty bizarre," said Bob Foley, who is caught in between in his basketball civil war.

Bob, the former University of Richmond women's coach, might not be enjoying his favorite home cooked meal or having breakfast in bed anytime soon.

"I'm rooting for Lauren," he said boldly, "although Louise may not like it."

Bob has offered some volunteer coaching to the Freeman team in the past.

This will be first time Louise has coached against her daughter. They have been on the same side many times.

Louise served as her daughter's coach at Moody Middle, and she was an assistant coach this past year for the Xplosion travel team that Lauren performed on.

"Mom's a good coach," Lauren said. "She knows what she's talking about."

It has become a tradition in Colonial District that, during pregame lineup introductions, the players run to the opposing bench to shake hands with the rival coach.

"Normally, we just say 'good luck,'" Lauren said. "I haven't thought about what I might say this time."

This is a game, and a night, that features more twists than a Hollywood script.

Freeman's first-year coach, Mandy Hester, coached the previous two seasons at Godwin. All the girls Hester directed the previous two seasons now will be on the other side.

Also, Lauren's younger brother, Bobby, is the second-leading scorer on the Godwin varsity.

The always hotly contested Godwin-Freeman boys game will follow the girls.

"What makes this all so funny is that it's Godwin-Freeman," Lauren said. "That's always a big game . . . even without all of this."

The doubleheader will provide Lauren a rare chance to watch her brother in action.

Normally, they are playing at different locations the same nights.

Now get this: The Foleys don't reside in the Godwin or Freeman districts. They live in the Deep Run High neighborhood.

Both children received variances to attend specialty centers. Lauren participates in Freeman's Leadership Center, and Bobby studies in Godwin's Math Center.

In-house drama could be building for the future, too.

A younger daughter, Michelle, is a basketball playing eighth-grader at Pocahontas Middle. And Danny Foley, already known for his smooth jump shot, is a fifth-grader at Springfield Park Elementary.

Lauren isn't without some strategy of her own for throwing mom out of X's and O's rhythm.

If Louise's playbook or coaching whistle shows up missing this week, the hoops "police" know where to look. There also is the chance Lauren's music might be played a bit loud -- and late -- this week, disrupting mom's game preparation.

Still, a mom usually has the upper hand.

Earlier this week, Lauren was sick in bed with flu symptoms.

Someone asked Coach Foley if she might hide her daughter's cough syrup.

"I've thought of that," Coach Mom said.
Contact Fred Jeter at (804) 739-2219 or fjeter@timesdispatch.com

Below are some pictures taken from Coach Foley's
clinic featuring

WNBA Star Diana Taurasi