THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502220591
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Norcom played its best game of the season, and Churchland played its usual game as the two posted easy opening round victories in the Southeastern District boys basketball tournament Tuesday night at Churchland.
The fourth-seeded Greyhounds (9-12) breezed to a 76-50 victory over No. 5 Oscar Smith while the regular-season champion Truckers (18-4) virtually matched that effort with a 76-49 win over No. 8 Wilson.
``I don't think we've played a better game this year,'' said Norcom coach Tony Holloway. ``I know we haven't shot better from the field.''
Norcom connected on 32 of 54 attempts, 59 percent. Vic Johnson showed the way with 16 points. Eric Pope contributed 15, missing only 3 of 9 shots.
Antoine Hunt shouldered the load for the Tigers (10-12) with 18 points. Fourteen came in the first half.
The teams split regular-season games, each losing on its home court. Holloway said he was concerned that the game might be decided at the foul line because his team had not performed well there of late.
``But this was a game that all of our players were on the same page and we really had a good bench contribution,'' he said.
Norcom had 29 points from the bench, and that was Oscar Smith's undoing. The Tigers did not get any points from their reserves in the first half, and they picked up only nine in the entire game.
In the nightcap, Churchland made an effort to get all 13 of its players in the scoring act - and succeeded.
District scoring champion D.J. Dunbar played sparingly and missed double figures for the first time this year with nine points.
Marvin Rodgers set the pace with 17 and Mike Holland added 13.
Perez Bottoms topped Wilson (2-19) with 14.
``We worked to get everybody into the scoring column,'' said point guard Holland. ``Now we're got to get ready for a tough one Thursday because Norcom is a good rival.''
Told that the Greyhounds were coming off their best performance of the season, Holland smiled and said, ``They will have to play another good one Thursday.''
Nine 3-pointers were made in the game, as the teams went to long-range attacks. Four of Churchland's first five attempts were 3-point shots. Overall, the Truckers put up 15, hitting only four. Wilson made five of 17. by CNB