THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 25, 1996 TAG: 9602250236
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Tallwood's Neil Roberts converted a 3-point play with 13.5 seconds left and then blocked a layup attempt by Green Run's Will Brooks with one-second left to preserve a 54-52 victory over the Stallions in the Beach District tournament final Saturday night.
The victory gave the Lions (20-3) a sweep of the regular-season and tournament titles and extended their winning streak to nine games before a crowd estimated at 1,800 at Tallwood. Green Run (19-4) had a nine-game winning streak halted.
The Stallions trailed 33-17 with 1:59 left in the first half and didn't regain the lead until Rod Cooper hit the front end of a one-and-one with 42.1 seconds left to make it 52-51.
Cooper missed the second shot, but Brooks grabbed the rebound. His stickback attempt hit off the rim and went out of bounds. Tallwood called timeout with 39.6 seconds left.
Tallwood coach Johnny Pope, looking for something to bolster his team's sagging fortunes hit on a familiar theme.
``I told them we're at home,'' Pope said. ``This is our gymnasium.''
Lions power forward Roberts brought the ball downcourt and was forced to keep it when point guard Phil Clay couldn't pop open.
Roberts, who is lefthanded, went right and blew past Plaxico Burress. He made the shot, the Lions' only field goal in the fourth quarter, and was fouled by Brooks.
``He forced me to my right,'' Roberts said. ``He didn't think I could go that way. After that I just tried to take it hard to the basket.''
Green Run called timeout and then quickly pushed the ball into the frontcourt. Kenyon Mullen tried to drive into the lane but the ball was knocked out of bounds and the Stallions retained possession with 6.7 seconds left.
The ball came into Brooks on the right wing and he started his drive from the 3-point circle. Roberts went up with him and blocked the ball off Brooks and out of bounds.
``He knows he fouled me,'' said Brooks, who had 15 points and 13 rebounds. ``All over.''
Roberts didn't it.
``I thought they would call a foul,'' he said. ``I got him the body a little, but I got all ball.''
Tallwood hit 5 of 6 3-pointers in opening its big first-half lead. Rian Everett led the Lions with 18 points before fouling out with 1:22 left. by CNB