Dana Johnson

Sunday's Parade Magazine will list Western's Dana Johnson among the 10 first-team All-American high school girls basketball players in the country.Johnson, The Evening Sun Most Valuable Player in the recent Metro Classic and The Evening Sun Player of the Year last season, averaged 21 points and 21 rebounds for the No. 1-ranked Doves (25-1) this season.A 6-foot-3 power forward, Johnson will attend the University of Tennessee next fall, as will Parade All-American first-teamers 6-6 Vonda Ward (Trinity High, Garfield Heights, Ohio)

Her photo and career accomplishments adorn the wall at Western High School. She is remembered by some as the best women's basketball player ever to come out of Baltimore. In her return to the place where she first made her name as a high school All-American, however, not even new Doves coach Dana Johnson could keep visiting Randallstown at bay yesterday. Coaching her first career regular-season game, Johnson could only watch as the 12th-ranked Rams, led by 6-foot-1 Ravin Chase and 6-2 Teresa Fallin, broke out to a 15-1 lead after the first four minutes en route to a 55-39 win over sixth-ranked Western in the opener for both teams.

Her photo and career accomplishments adorn the wall at Western High School. She is remembered by some as the best women's basketball player ever to come out of Baltimore. In her return to the place where she first made her name as a high school All-American, however, not even new Doves coach Dana Johnson could keep visiting Randallstown at bay yesterday. Coaching her first career regular-season game, Johnson could only watch as the 12th-ranked Rams, led by 6-foot-1 Ravin Chase and 6-2 Teresa Fallin, broke out to a 15-1 lead after the first four minutes en route to a 55-39 win over sixth-ranked Western in the opener for both teams.

Her photo and career accomplishments adorn the wall at Western High School. She is remembered by some as the best women's basketball player ever to come out of Baltimore. In her return to the place where she first made her name as a high school All-American, however, not even new Doves coach Dana Johnson could keep visiting Randallstown at bay yesterday. Coaching her first career regular-season game, Johnson could only watch as the 12th-ranked Rams, led by 6-foot-1 Ravin Chase and 6-2 Teresa Fallin, broke out to a 15-1 lead after the first four minutes en route to a 55-39 win over sixth-ranked Western in the opener for both teams.

Her photo and career accomplishments adorn the wall at Western High School. She is remembered by some as the best women's basketball player ever to come out of Baltimore. In her return to the place where she first made her name as a high school All-American, however, not even new Doves coach Dana Johnson could keep visiting Randallstown at bay yesterday. Coaching her first career regular-season game, Johnson could only watch as the 12th-ranked Rams, led by 6-foot-1 Ravin Chase and 6-2 Teresa Fallin, broke out to a 15-1 lead after the first four minutes en route to a 55-39 win over sixth-ranked Western in the opener for both teams.

A scowl came over Western coach Breezy Bishop's face yesterday as she called for a timeout three minutes into the second quarter.Visiting Cardinal O'Hara from Springfield, Pa., was leading her team by 10. O'Hara (13-3) would stretch its lead to 19 in the second half before weathering a Western rally and holding on for a 64-61 victory.The loss ended No. 1 Western's 42-game winning streak. The Doves (15-1), ranked No. 7 nationally by USA Today, had not lost since Feb. 26, 1989, when Walbrook upset them, 49-43, in the Public Schools Tournament championship game.

STORRS, Conn. -- Usually when Aretha Franklin's "Respect" blares from an arena's public address system, the song is merely entertainment.But when the second-ranked Connecticut women's basketball team knocked off No. 1 Tennessee, 77-66, yesterday, the song became the theme song of a team and maybe a sport."

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- If you haven't seen Dana Johnson since she dominated the Baltimore high school girls basketball scene, you might not recognize the woman she's become.For one thing, Johnson is 30 pounds lighter than when she led Western High to a 65-4 record and two city titles. The girlish eyeglasses have been replaced with contact lenses, which make her look more mature.Oh, and then there's the duckwalk.At certain select times during a Tennessee game, usually about the time the third-ranked Lady Vols are about to seal the deal on another win, Johnson, a 6-foot-2 senior post player, will score in close, then spin to head downcourt with an exaggerated gait that is a page right out of the Chuck Berry stylebook.

BaseballFree agency -- P Steve Farr, P Jose DeLeon, P Kirk McCaskill, P Bill Gullickson, P Dennis Eckersley, P Rick Honeycutt, P Dan Plesac, P Pete Smith, P Zane Smith, C Bob Melvin, IF Rene Gonzales, C Tony Pena, SS Alan Trammell, IF/OF Juan Samuel, SS Dick Schofield, OF Rafael Belliard, OF Kevin Mitchell, OF Kevin McReynolds, OF Lloyd McClendon and C Lance Parrish filed.Player Relations Committee -- Rejected free-agency bids of Indians SS Alvaro Espinoza and Yankees SS Randy Velarde.Sporting News -- Named Astros 1B Jeff Bagwell Player of the Year, Yankees' Buck Showalter American League Manager of the Year, Expos' Felipe Alou National League Manager of the Year and Indians GM John Hart Executive of the Year.

LOS ANGELES -- Dana Johnson's story is one they will tell for years at Western High School in Baltimore, the tale of the big player with the bigger heart.She went from an awkward, out-of-shape 14-year-old to a star.As a freshman, she occupied space. As a sophomore, she learned to shoot. As a junior, she grew leaner, the pounds dropping off her 6-foot-2 frame, until she finally weighed 205. And as a senior, she blossomed."Sometimes I look back and can't believe all that has happened," said Dana Johnson.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- If you haven't seen Dana Johnson since she dominated the Baltimore high school girls basketball scene, you might not recognize the woman she's become.For one thing, Johnson is 30 pounds lighter than when she led Western High to a 65-4 record and two city titles. The girlish eyeglasses have been replaced with contact lenses, which make her look more mature.Oh, and then there's the duckwalk.At certain select times during a Tennessee game, usually about the time the third-ranked Lady Vols are about to seal the deal on another win, Johnson, a 6-foot-2 senior post player, will score in close, then spin to head downcourt with an exaggerated gait that is a page right out of the Chuck Berry stylebook.

STORRS, Conn. -- Usually when Aretha Franklin's "Respect" blares from an arena's public address system, the song is merely entertainment.But when the second-ranked Connecticut women's basketball team knocked off No. 1 Tennessee, 77-66, yesterday, the song became the theme song of a team and maybe a sport."

Western's Chanel Wright makes it look so effortless.Jump shots from 15 feet that touch nothing but net.Slashing and --ing through opposing defenses for uncontested layups.Precision touch passes to her teammates on the fast break.A confidence that she exudes every time she touches the ball. A quiet demeanor that is imperturbable.It's hard to believe that it has been only three years since Wright was an insecure freshman who nearly gave up basketball because she didn't think she could handle the emotional strain.

BaseballFree agency -- P Steve Farr, P Jose DeLeon, P Kirk McCaskill, P Bill Gullickson, P Dennis Eckersley, P Rick Honeycutt, P Dan Plesac, P Pete Smith, P Zane Smith, C Bob Melvin, IF Rene Gonzales, C Tony Pena, SS Alan Trammell, IF/OF Juan Samuel, SS Dick Schofield, OF Rafael Belliard, OF Kevin Mitchell, OF Kevin McReynolds, OF Lloyd McClendon and C Lance Parrish filed.Player Relations Committee -- Rejected free-agency bids of Indians SS Alvaro Espinoza and Yankees SS Randy Velarde.Sporting News -- Named Astros 1B Jeff Bagwell Player of the Year, Yankees' Buck Showalter American League Manager of the Year, Expos' Felipe Alou National League Manager of the Year and Indians GM John Hart Executive of the Year.

COACH OF THE YEARCraig O'Connell, Howard -- O'Connell led Howard to the state Class 3A championship during a season in which injuries and players quitting once had his roster down to just six.The Lions lacked offense, scoring 40 points or less 12 times, including four games in which they failed to score 30. They were 9-11 before winning their last two regular-season games to enter the regional playoffs with a .500 record.The Lions (16-11) won three regional playoff games on the road -- including a 37-29 victory over a Mount Hebron team that had beaten the Lions twice during the regular season -- before defeating Randallstown in the state semifinals and DuVal in the championship game.

COACH OF THE YEARMike Mohler, Seton Keough -- Before the season began, first-year coach Mike Mohler asked Seton Keough athletic director Mary Burns where she thought the Gators would finish in the Catholic League. Burns told him that fifth place was realistic, third place optimistic.Mohler, the eternal optimist, led the team to a 10-4 league record, good enough for third place behind third-ranked St. Frances and fourth-ranked St. Mary's. Although five of its top six players were underclassmen, Seton Keough finished the season with an 18-8 overall record and a No. 14 ranking, the team's best showing since winning its third consecutive Catholic League championship in 1991.

At the conclusion of last season's Class 4A state championship game, the Western players hung their heads and wept as the taunting chant of "overrated" rang throughout the arena.The memory of that loss lingered in the minds of the Doves.Yesterday, however, there were no taunts or tears for Western.Just a title.Junior forward Chanel Wright scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead second-ranked Western to a 61-48 victory over Montgomery County's Sherwood in the Class 4A state final at UMBC.

Magic signs ex-Terp Brian WilliamsFirst-round NBA draft pick Brian Williams, the 10th selection overall, signed a multiyear contract with the Orlando Magic yesterday.Williams, a 6-foot-11 power forward who transferred from Maryland to Arizona after the 1987-88 season, will be in uniform against the Utah Jazz tomorrow night. The contract is believed to be the same four-year, $4.6 million offer Orlando made during preseason.Williams' signing and that of the Indiana Pacers' Dale Davis yesterday leaves only Luc Longley of the Minnesota Timberwolves unsigned among first-rounders.

At the conclusion of last season's Class 4A state championship game, the Western players hung their heads and wept as the taunting chant of "overrated" rang throughout the arena.The memory of that loss lingered in the minds of the Doves.Yesterday, however, there were no taunts or tears for Western.Just a title.Junior forward Chanel Wright scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead second-ranked Western to a 61-48 victory over Montgomery County's Sherwood in the Class 4A state final at UMBC.

Magic signs ex-Terp Brian WilliamsFirst-round NBA draft pick Brian Williams, the 10th selection overall, signed a multiyear contract with the Orlando Magic yesterday.Williams, a 6-foot-11 power forward who transferred from Maryland to Arizona after the 1987-88 season, will be in uniform against the Utah Jazz tomorrow night. The contract is believed to be the same four-year, $4.6 million offer Orlando made during preseason.Williams' signing and that of the Indiana Pacers' Dale Davis yesterday leaves only Luc Longley of the Minnesota Timberwolves unsigned among first-rounders.