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Courtesy of Erin Burton

Narrows High School's Cameron Snidow is shooting over 50 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free throw line this season.

The Roanoke Times | File March

Narrows High School player Cameron Snidow (right) chases Bland County's Laurel Hankins down the court during last season's Group A Division 1 state semifinal game in Richmond.

| Chuck Altizer

Special to The Roanoke Times

Narrows High School girls basketball coach Wayne Gautier's job as recreation director has its advantages.

One is getting to see the talent coming up through the ranks. Talent such as Cameron Snidow.

"When I first saw Cameron coming through, I knew we were going to have someone that was going to be a good player when she got to high school," he said.

Snidow is the Green Wave's leading scorer, averaging 14.5 points per game.

Having her best season as a high schooler, the junior is shooting over 50 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free throw line.

But even though Gautier saw Snidow's potential when she was young, it took her awhile to get into the lineup.

Stuck behind a wealth of talent during her first two seasons, she was able to show her talent the final six games of her freshman season when she was called up from the junior varsity team because of several injuries.

Last season, during the Green Wave's first trip to the state tournament, Snidow served as the sixth man coming off the bench -- a role her coach said she accepted "very well."

"When I talked to her about it I told her that this year will be her year to shine, and she worked really hard over the summer to get ready for the season," he said.

But according to Snidow, the reason for the hard work wasn't for her time to shine -- it was to help her teammates reach their goals.

"This year has been a pretty good year for me so far," she said.

"Coach expects a lot out of us, and he told me I had to step up my game this season, so I took it upon myself to lead my team and do whatever I can to help us win."

She is described as a "fierce competitor" by her coach, but it is that competitiveness that can be her biggest fault as well.

"I have learned that once the play it over it is done happened and it's over with," she said.

"I can't lose my focus if something doesn't go right -- I have to try my best, stay in the game and keep my mouth shut."

Gautier agreed.

"She is going to leave it all out on the floor," he said.

"She is a competitor for good or bad, which is one of the first things I noticed about her. She can be a bit of a perfectionist, but she is a good scorer and real good at anticipation on defense getting out in the passing lanes -- this is her main sport and she has worked hard to be good."

Seven seniors complement Snidow, junior post Savannah Burton and guard Starla Reed for Narrows. It is that experience that has the Green Wave talking about another trip to Richmond, where they lost last season in the state semifinals.

A 15-1 start with the lone loss to Group AA Tazewell has optimism running high.

But three tough district games remain on the schedule, and a deeper region this season could derail the chances.

"We talked about a few goals before the season," Gautier said. "One was winning our Christmas tournament. We did that. We want to win our district and we want to get back to the state.

"They know it is reachable but we have to continue to play hard every night out. Other than the Tazewell game I felt we have done that."

For Snidow, though, it is about giving the seniors who have taught her so much a memorable year.

"Last year was a great experience and this year we expect to go back," she said.

"We have some great senior leaders, and just to watch them go all out because they want to make their last year memorable is inspiring. For me, it makes me want to try and give them an awesome senior year."