Olympic Women’s Basketball Trials : Altitude Tests Players; Miller Receives Waiver

If the aim of the Amateur Basketball Assn. of the United States is to toughen and test the players who are here for the Olympic women’s basketball team trials, it’s working.

After just one day of workouts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the 50 players are dragging.

And why not? Besides time changes, the players have had to adjust to altitude, three-a-day workouts and playing with the slightly larger ball used in international play.

“This altitude gets you, believe me,” Cynthia Cooper, former USC guard, said. “You think you are in good shape. Then you get here, you run, and you die.”

Cooper is one of five Southland players trying to make Sunday’s cut to 18 or 20 players. A selection committee of 16 is assisting Olympic Coach Kay Yow in paring the team.

Also here are former USC guard Rhonda Windham and three players from Cal State Long Beach--Traci Waites and Penny Toler, both off this season’s team, and Cindy Brown, who graduated in 1987.

ABAUSA officials announced Thursday that medical waivers were granted to six players. They will join the team in Raleigh, N.C., for a mini-camp June 3-9.

The six are Cheryl Miller, formerly of USC; Kamie Ethridge, formerly of Texas; Clarissa Davis of Texas; Terri Mann of Western Kentucky; Vickie Orr of Auburn, and Bridgette Gordon of Tennessee. All but Gordon have knee injuries. Gordon has a dislocated finger.

The announcement of the waivers led to some ripples of second-guessing Thursday, but most of the players seemed to accept the situation.

“Personally, I have never heard of a waiver before,” Brown said. “I was quite shocked that some people weren’t going to be here. But I don’t hold it against them.”

Of the 58 players who were invited, 50 are here. Missing, besides the six with medical waivers, are Nora Lewis of Louisiana Tech and Jessica Haynes of San Diego State, both unexplained no-shows.

Of those in attendance, 7 are centers, 21 are guards and 22 are forwards.

Cooper is thought to have a good chance to make the cut. She has extensive international experience, having represented the United States in the Goodwill Games, the World Championships, the Olympics and the Pan American Games.

“I think it’s an advantage to have had some experience,” Cooper agreed. “I kind of have a sense of what (team selectors) want. I’ve been here before.”

Cooper has been playing in Italy, where she has grown accustomed to playing with the larger ball. USC Coach Linda Sharp, who is on the selection committee, said it will take the collegiate players at least a day to adjust to it.

“I’ve seen a lot of turnovers today,” Sharp said.

Brown, too, has been playing in Italy since she graduated and is familiar with both international play and the different ball.

“I think it’s an advantage,” she said. “Most of the girls here are used to the smaller ball, but this one didn’t faze me. They will soon get used to it, and the altitude. I feel it, too. I’ve got a sinus problem and allergies.

“But I don’t care what they throw at us. This is the Olympic trials. The best players in the country are here. Everyone will do her best.”

Waites is at her first international tryout and said her biggest concern is catching her breath.

“The altitude is definitely a factor,” she said. “I couldn’t breathe last night. I got like two hours of sleep. You don’t know how hard to go in the workouts because you have to save yourself.”

Most members of the Olympic staff said they thought the adjustment period will be over by today.