Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 14, 1991 TAG: 9103140024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Patrick Henry won Group AAA titles in 1970 and 1988, and Glenvar came from nowhere to win the Group AA title in 1975.
Now Roanoke has two of its stronger representatives in the boys' state tournaments in recent years as Patrick Henry seeks its third Group AAA crown in 21 years and Northside goes after a Group AA championship
Patrick Henry (22-4) plays George Wythe (20-3) of Richmond tonight at 7 at William and Mary Hall in Williamsburg.
Northside (23-2) meets Matoaca (23-3) tonight at 8:45 in a first-round game at University Hall in Charlottesville that finishes a busy day for Timesland teams.
Four Timesland teams will be in action in the Group AA tournament. Carroll County (18-8) opens at 2 p.m. against defending champion R.E. Lee of Staunton (23-4).
Then Laurel Park (24-1), the No. 1 team in The Associated Press' Group AA poll, battles Southampton (22-4). The Lancers come out of the state's toughest district, the Piedmont, which has won 10 Group AA titles in the past 30 years.
At 7, Marion (24-2), which was in the state tournament last year, plays Waynesboro (22-3), which hasn't been to the state since the 1960s.
"We're the underdogs going in and not supposed to be here," said PH coach Woody Deans, in comparing his team with defending champion Bayside (22-4) and Deep Creek (25-2), which come from the strong Eastern Region that has won five of the last six Group AAA titles.
However, the Patriots are no slouches with eight players ready to contribute after having battled one of the state's toughest schedules.
Three of PH's losses have come to Harker (Md.) Prep and St. Anthony's (N.J.), both ranked in the USA Today poll, and defending Georgia AAA champion Atlanta Southside, one of that state's top teams again this season.
Lately, 6-foot-5 sophomore Timmy Basham, 6-5 junior Jonas Callis and guard Troy Johnson have been playing their best basketball of the season to team with returning veterans Troy and Monty Anderson, Troy Manns and Toby Webb.
Northside must bounce back after losing 103-81 to Laurel Park in the Region III championship game. Matoaca finished as runner-up to Lee last year, but the Indians return only two starters in guards Chris White, who averages 20.5 points per game, and Harold Deane, averaging 21 points.
"I don't know if they're as good as last year, but their guards are back. That makes them tough," said Vikings coach Billy Pope.
Southampton will have a look that Laurel Park and 6-8 Odell Hodge (25.9 ppg.) haven't seen - some height. The Indians are led by 6-6 Doug Hines (20.0 ppg.) and 6-3 Percy Ellsworth (19.4 ppg.).
"We faced a big kid in a Christmas tournament, but across the board, this is the biggest team we've faced," said Laurel Park coach Frank Scott.
The Lancers' coach said his guards - Deronde Hairston and Lloyd Hairston - might be a factor.
"Last year, the guards sort of hurt us," said Scott, whose team was beaten by Lee in the Group AA semifinals. "Since they handle the ball the most, they're the most magnified players. But this year I'll put them up against any guards."
Marion hopes to go further in the state tournament than last year when the Scarlet Hurricane lost in the first round to Laurel Park.
"We have tournament experience, and our kids know what it's like. We know what we have to do," said Marion coach K.W. Lawson, who returned four starters.
Marion's only two losses came to Carroll County and Lee of Jonesville. The Scarlet Hurricane avenged both in the tournaments, knocking off Lee in the Highlands District championship game and Carroll County in the Region IV title game.
Carroll County has the toughest task against Lee. The Cavaliers have no high-scoring stars, but return five of their top six players from last year's team. Lee has only one returning starter, 6-3 Marcus Reed (22.8 ppg.). The Generals have won 19 of their last 20 games.
by CNB