THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 24, 1995 TAG: 9512210198
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
Correspondent
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Bobby Dunn, Northeastern High School basketball coach, is probably hoping for a little Christmas miracle this season. The Eagles, off to a 1-4 start in the first three weeks of the season, have little experience returning from last year.
Northeastern has no starters back and only three players with any playing experience. Last year's Eagles were decimated by poor grades. Dunn lost seven of 14 varsity players midway through the season. He called up JV players just so he would have 10 warm bodies for practice.
Back from last year are forwards Ronzee Hinton and John Helms. Steve Christian, who played the first half of last season before becoming ineligible, will play point guard.
Other starters are first-year varsity players Tarris Brown at forward and Kentron King at guard.
Other players on the squad include center Matthew Simpson, guard B.J. Walton, forward John Shannon, forward Cory Barclift, forward Greg Pickett, and two freshmen, Eric White and Michael Gregory.
Dunn said a few players are still ineligible and may be able to return at midseason.
``Our guards are really our strength,'' Dunn said. ``We should have depth on the front line, but we just don't have big front line players. Matthew Simpson is the biggest at 6-4.''
Dunn said the Eagles have been playing pretty well defensively, holding opponents to around 51 points per game. But lack of experience has hurt.
``Because of our lack of experience, we're not executing as properly as we should,'' he said. ``We get the ball to the right spot, but we haven't been able to finish off.''
The Eagles are having trouble winning during their tough non-conference schedule. Their only win has come against 1A Camden County.
According to Dunn, four of the teams in the Big East Conference are ranked in the top 10 in the eastern part of the state.
``If they don't execute, and if they don't learn how to use their bodies and finish off around the goal, they're going to be in lot of trouble,'' Dunn said.
``Hopefully we will be able to learn.'' by CNB