Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 8, 1991 TAG: 9103080476
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DANVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The Patriots' sophomore joined junior Jonas Callis in providing a look at the future as they guided Patrick Henry past George Washington 90-79 in the Group AAA Northwestern Region boys' basketball tournament.
The 6-foot-5 Basham had probably the best game of his career as he scored 32 points, hauled down seven rebounds, had two assists, two steals and connected on 11 of 20 shots, including four-of-six 3-point attempts.
PH (21-4) is back in the Group AAA tournament for the first time since it won the 1988 championship at Richmond and will play Fauquier County in the regional championship game Saturday at Salem High.
For Patriots coach Woody Deans, the return to the state and his greatest coaching feat will be a special treat. "It'll be homecoming because the state's in Williamsburg. I was born there when my parents were students at William and Mary," he said.
Basham's performance included hitting four 3-point shots in a row - two to end the first half and two to open the second half - as PH went on a 16-3 run to take a 43-41 lead after trailing by 11.
"He's a sophomore?" GW coach Harry Johnson asked of Basham. "Then I'm retiring."
Before Basham's streak, Callis had kept the Patriots in the game by hitting 6-of-8 first-half free throws and a field goal on the way to a career-high 16 points.
The Patriots were having trouble shooting and getting back on defense until Basham, who plays off the bench, got in the game. PH made just 29-of-76 (38.2 percent) after a cold first half when it went 13-of-40 (32.5 percent).
"I guess it was just a long trip here," Basham said. "We weren't shooting like we were supposed to, but then we got hot."
The intermission failed to cool off Basham. "I came out at half and shot a couple of threes in warmups," he said.
Callis had a game-high 10 rebounds and probably played more than he has all year as Deans went to his tall lineup.
"This one was an inside game. The last few games have been for the guards and you have to have ball handlers. I'm not the best ball handler," said Callis.
"Usually, the defenses are packed in in the middle. But they played a 2-3 zone and had the guards pull out on our guards. So that opened up the middle."
PH also didn't get back on defense and GW (12-10) sent a guard down court whenever the Patriots shot. PH gave up several fast-break baskets and was outrebounded 28-20 the first half, but reversed that by winning the boards in the second half 20-15.
"Coach Deans got on us about not boxing out, so we got a body on them the second half," said Basham.
After the 16-3 spurt, Troy Johnson, who had four assists to lead PH, gave the Patriots a lead for good when he nailed a 3-pointer followed by another from Troy Anderson. That gave PH six in a row and a 49-45 lead it never lost as it outscored the Cardinals 53-40 in the last 16 minutes.
PH moved on top 77-63 with 3:20 left, then weathered a comeback by the Cardinals that cut the lead to six. On a series of technical and intentional fouls, though, the Patriots scored seven points on one possession in the final minute to nail down the victory. see microfilm for box score
by CNB