A KIRNON BLOCK PARTY : LANCASTER STANDOUT KNOWN FOR HER AGGRESSIVE PLAY.Byline: Chris Cocoles Daily News Staff Writer Candace Kirnon not only likes to block opposing players' shot attempts, but the Lancaster High senior wants an extra bit of satisfaction. ``I usually like to get my blocks from behind. I'll let them beat me and just when they they think they have position on me I go for the block,'' Kirnon said. ``I want to embarrass embarrass /em·bar·rass/ (em-bar´as) to impede the function of; to obstruct. em·bar·rass v. To interfere with or impede (a bodily function or part). them . . . I love to block shots.'' Kirnon, whose first name is pronounced can-DAY-see, has made plenty of opposing post players blush blush n. A sudden and brief redness of the face and neck due to emotion; flush. blush v. this season. She's averaging about four blocks a game as a 5-foot-10 center. First-year Lancaster coach Jennifer Solee says Kirnon can be relentless on defense with her shot blocking prowess PROWESS Infectious disease A clinical trial–Recombinant Human Activated Protein C [Zovant™] Worldwide Evaluation in Severe Sepsis . Solee, a former lower level coach and varsity assistant at Palmdale, considers Kirnon to be a more aggressive with blocking shots than former Falcons' standout Kristi Rose, now at the University of Utah The University of Utah (also The U or the U of U or the UU), located in Salt Lake City, is the flagship public research university in the state of Utah, and one of 10 institutions that make up the Utah System of Higher Education. . ``Candace is much more aggressive than Kritsi Rose was,'' Solee said. ``But Kristi always did a good job of of making good decisions as to when to get blocked shots.'' That's where Kirnon usually gets in trouble, foul trouble that is. Her preference to get a block from behind all too often draws an official's whistle A simple whistle is a woodwind instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. Many types exist, from small police and sports whistles (also called pea whistles), to much larger train whistles, which are steam whistles specifically designed for use on . ``I think the refs think that since I got beat I must have committed a foul going for the block from behind. It gets pretty frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: because I do get in some foul trouble because of that,'' Kirnon said. Even with three or four fouls, Kirnon continues to be on the lookout for in search of; looking for. See also: Lookout a potential rejection. Solee has watched Kirnon stay active in the paint on defense with four fouls and has avoided disqualification dis·qual·i·fi·ca·tion n. 1. The act of disqualifying or the condition of having been disqualified. 2. Something that disqualifies: illness as a disqualification for enlistment in the army. several times this season. She's also a solid rebounder, averaging approximately eight. Her offense, like Lancaster's entire team, hasn't clicked. Though she recorded two double-doubles in Golden League play, Kirnon is scoring just five points per game on an Eagles' team that doesn't have anyone averaging in double figures. ``Candace gets a lot of her shots on offensive rebounds and putbacks,'' Solee said. ``She needs to work on her shot selection.'' The Eagles' lack of scoring production has overshadowed what is a very stingy stin·gy adj. stin·gi·er, stin·gi·est 1. Giving or spending reluctantly. 2. Scanty or meager: a stingy meal; stingy with details about the past. defensive team. Lancaster, which finished last in the Golden League a year ago, has moved up to fourth with a 1-5 league record, 5-11 overall. ``Our defense has been pretty good. We scored most of our points on fast breaks created by our defense,'' Kirnon said. ``We can stop a team but our offense doesn't make good passes and we don't take care of the ball.'' But Kirnon doesn't need much work on the other end of the floor. She credits her father David for making it easy to be a shot blocker. ``My dad couldn't play basketball very well but I used to play with him in our backyard Our Backyard was a series for pre-school children which aired at lunchtime on ITV from August 1984 until January 1987.It was produced by Granada Television. The format was simple. ,'' Kirnon said. ``We were about the same height and I used to block all of his shots.'' And to think she considered herself a shooting guard The Shooting guard (SG), also known as the two or off guard,[1] is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. when she arrived on the Lancaster campus as a freshman. There's another irony to Kirnon's progression to one of the Golden League's best defensive forces. ``I used to hate playing basketball,'' Kirnon said. ``At (Parkview Junior High) I played basketball just because I was tall. I never played and sat on the bench the whole time.'' She always hated watching basketball on television. But somewhere between her sophomore and junior years, Kirnon fell in love with the game she loathed so much. Now Kirnon just wishes her basketball career could continue at the collegiate col·le·giate adj. 1. Of, relating to, or held to resemble a college. 2. Of, for, or typical of college students. 3. Of or relating to a collegiate church. level. But she doesn't get a lot of publicity playing at a school still building its infant girls' basketball program. ``If I was at a school with a set program I might be able to get some more exposure. But (Lancaster's) a new program,'' said Kirnon, who hasn't heard from any schools. ``After every game people will ask me `Who are you getting letters from?' And I haven't gotten any.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1) ``I usually like to get my blocks from behind. I'll let them beat me and just when they they think they have position on me I go for the block. I want to embarrass them . . . I love to block shots.'' - Candace Kirnon Lancaster High center (2) Lancaster's 5-foot-10 center Candace Kirnon, like the rest of her teammates, prides herself on defense. Phil McCarten/Daily News |
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