Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 9, 1991 TAG: 9103090383
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: BASSETT LENGTH: Medium
The 6-foot-2 junior scored a career-high 39 points and carried the Vikings to the Group AA state tournament with an 84-75 victory over Nelson County on Friday night in the Region III boys' basketball tournament.
The victory sets up a meeting in tonight's final at 7:30 between the state's top two Group AA teams when No. 2 Northside (23-1) takes on No. 1 Laurel Park (23-1). It also matches the Timesland's two most productive scorers - Baker averaging 24.0 points and the Lancers' 6-8 Odell Hodge with a 25.3 average.
In the semifinal against fourth-ranked Nelson County (21-3), Baker missed his first three shots and went to the bench for a chat with coach Billy Pope.
"I told him he had play the kind of game it was. It was a big game and he had to play a big game," said Pope.
Said Baker, "He told me to step up or we wouldn't go to the state. I wanted the ball so badly. Then I was hitting and I kept on shooting."
After reentering the game, Baker hit 12 shots in a row and four free throws before he missed an inside shot near the end of the third quarter. For the night, Baker connected on 13 of 18 shots, including seven of 10 from 3-point range. He also had eight rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.
"I've never seen a kid shoot the ball like that," said Pope. "It was unbelievable."
Nelson County coach Dave Camden couldn't believe it either.
"We knew he could shoot and we worked all week long [on stopping it]. We had a triangle-and-two on him, and still couldn't stop him," Camden said. "Maybe if President Bush had sent in the armed forces, that would have stopped him. What a competitor he is."
Nelson County went on top 12-2 midway of the first quarter. Baker's first field goal came with less than two minutes left to make it 14-10. By the end of the quarter, he had seven points and the Vikings trailed 18-17.
Then came the second quarter. Baker hit 18 points, including four straight three-point shots, as Northside pulled away to a 43-32 lead at halftime.
"I'm thinking the guy's so hot, just get it to him," said Northside point guard Chad Briscoe. "Then Curtis, Pete [Taylor] and Ron [Glass] just set such good picks. Then I'm thinking, `Keep hitting John so we can go to the state.' "
Baker said, "I got in a groove, and the guys just kept looking for me. It was one of those nights."
In the second half, Nelson County sent Herbie Elcox, the Seminole District player of the year, to guard Baker, who responded with nine points. For his final points in the last quarter, Baker got the ball against Elcox and drew a foul as he went to the basket.
Baker's shooting put Northside on top 62-40 with 2:48 left in the third quarter, but it wouldn't be an easy victory. Camden went with a smaller lineup, and Elcox, who had been hounded by Curtis Ballard and Briscoe, collected 18 points in the second half on the way to a 24-point night.
The Governors cut Northside's lead to 77-71 with 1:15 left, but Briscoe took over by hitting six consecutive free throws down the stretch.
Northside made 29 of 52 field-goal attempts for 55.8 percent, but lost the rebounding battle 36-29 as Elcox grabbed 12 rebounds. The Governors hit 30 of 67 shots for 44.8 percent.
If the Vikings win tonight, they will have beaten three of the top five Group AA teams in the state. They started with fifth-rated Martinsville to open this tournament.
"If we win tonight, it might be one of the great weeks in Northside athletic history. I know both these teams are in the state, but this is a big game," said Pope.
FOR INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM SCORING, SEE MICROFILM.
by CNB