DANCING WITH KNIGHT'S STAR LIGHTHEARTED JAHNE WILLIAMS A LEADER ON AND OFF THE COURT.Byline: Kevin Connelly Kevin Connelly was born in Middlesbrough, England. He is an impressionist comedian, and after dinner speaker and is probably most famous for his role on the popular BBC television programme 'Dead Ringers'. Special to the Daily News There are some athletes who like to listen to music before games. Others prefer to survey the opposition or talk strategy with coaches. Then there's Jahne Williams, a junior on the Knight High girls' basketball team. ``She dances,'' Knight assistant coach Danny Henderson said. ``Most girls try and focus before games. They don't talk. (Head coach Shawn Johnson Shawn Johnson (born January 19, 1992 in Des Moines, Iowa) is an American gymnast. She is the 2007 World All-Around Champion, as well as the 2007 U.S. National All-Around Champion. and I) joke that Jahne won't get hurt on the court, but dancing on the sidelines On the sidelines An investor who decides not to invest due to market uncertainty. on the sidelines Of or relating to investors who, having assessed the market, have decided to avoid committing their funds. before the game.'' Henderson says he believes this carefree spirit has contributed to Williams' success on the court. In 21 games this year, the first-year varsity player has team highs of 16.6 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game. Williams, who has 12 double-doubles this year, notched a triple-double (20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals) in her first career varsity game, a 58-39 victory Nov. 30 over Paraclete. The 5-foot-10 forward - also a two-time Golden League shot put champion in track and field - has four double-doubles in her past five games, including a career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds Jan. 6 against Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley . ``Jahne is a super athlete,'' Henderson said. ``She's got this happy-go-lucky personality, and she likes to joke a lot, but she is serious when she needs to be.'' Williams is a Division I college prospect who is working on her game. She sometimes jumps passing lanes too aggressively, committing unnecessary fouls - she has 69 fouls this season - and foul trouble has limited her playing time in some games. And she is hesitant hes·i·tant adj. Inclined or tending to hesitate. hes  i·tant·ly adv. to dribble
to her left.
``There's always room for improvement,'' Williams acknowledged. ``I don't think I'm the best I'll ever be. I know I need to improve defensively.'' Lancaster coach John Gallen, whose Eagles beat Knight 56-41 on Jan. 4, says Lancaster senior Andrea Bobic and Palmdale junior Brittney Lloyd are Williams' equals. ``But there's no question,'' Gallen said. ``To beat Knight, you have to first stop Jahne Williams.'' Although not expected to seriously contend for the league title, Knight (11-10 overall, 4-2 Golden), in its first year as a varsity program, is in third place, behind Palmdale (10-10, 5-0) and Lancaster (10-4, 3-1). Knight also is receiving significant contributions from sophomore Gelenda Loving (11.9 points per game) and junior Nicole Troncoso (8.9 rebounds per game). The Hawks, who have no seniors, play host to Lancaster Tuesday and Palmdale on Feb. 3. Upset victories could catapult catapult (kăt`əpŭlt'), mechanism used to throw missiles in ancient and medieval warfare. At first, catapults were specifically designed to shoot spears or other missiles at a low trajectory (see bow and arrow). Knight atop the standings, but don't expect the magnitude of those games to deter Williams from her pregame routine. ``Jahne is such a stress-reducer,'' Johnson said. ``She is so lighthearted light·heart·ed adj. Not being burdened by trouble, worry, or care; happy and carefree. See Synonyms at glad1. light , sometimes goofy Goofy bumbling, awkward dog; originally named Dippy Dawg. [Comics: “Mickey Mouse” in Horn, 492] See : Awkwardness , but she knows exactly when to turn it on. She really hates to lose.'' Kevin Connelly, (818) 713-3607 dnlasports(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Jahne Williams, Knight's leading scorer and rebounder, boosts the Hawks' morale with a ``sometimes goofy'' demeanor The outward physical behavior and appearance of a person. Demeanor is not merely what someone says but the manner in which it is said. Factors that contribute to an individual's demeanor include tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures, and carriage. . Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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