Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 2, 1992 TAG: 9201020051
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
HOW FAR CAN PATRICK HENRY GO?
Almost immediately after Patrick Henry's 83-57 championship victory over Brainerd of Chattanooga, Tenn., in the Arby's Classic boys' basketball tournament, the inevitable question was asked of Patriots coach Woody Deans.Does this mean Patrick Henry could win the 1992 Group AAA boys' basketball championship? The 1988 Patrick Henry team won the Arby's, then dominated the rest of the winter en route to the state title.
"Don't say that," said a horrified Deans in answer to the question.
Why not say it? Unless there is a great Group AAA team in the eastern part of Virginia with a lot of talent and a lot of height, the Patriots have to be the pick to win the title. That's as long as other teams run with them. Teams that run a patterned, disciplined offense pose the biggest threat to PH.
The Brainerd club that PH systematically dismantled is one of Tennessee's better programs. Some writers in Tennessee were ready to vote the Panthers as the No. 1 team in that state when the rankings come out in a couple of weeks.
Three years ago, Brainerd was the Tennessee state champion when the Panthers joined PH, Brunswick and Griffin, Ga., in the Arby's Classic semifinals. All four teams won state championships that year with Brunswick claiming the Group AA title in Virginia.
This Arby's field didn't have the talent of the one four years ago, but close to it.
"We knew this would be an inside game," Brainerd coach Robert High said. "And they beat us on the defensive boards. We stood there watching for balls to come off the defensive board while they just went up and swept them."
The Patriots had a 22-14 edge in rebounding at the half that included three follow-up shots of misses. PH led by 25 points and the game was, for all practical purposes, over in the first four minutes.
Now comes the rest of the winter for the Patriots. Next weekend, when PH plays William Fleming on Friday and Louisville Male on Saturday in the Crestar Classic at the Roanoke Civic Center, the Patriots will face their toughest competition until the tournaments.
Fleming might resort to a disciplined offense as it has so many times in the past. Daniel Boone used that ploy in the Arby's Classic semifinals when PH held on for a 63-59 victory.
The Patriots have the defensive skills to offset another team's patience. Daniel Boone made only 19-of-49 shots, and Brainerd committed 26 turnovers against PH's aggressive defense.
In the final two Arby's Classic games, the Patriots turned the ball over just 22 times.
Almost before the Arby's Classic trophy could be put into PH's hands, the Patriots received an invitation to next year's tournament. Deans deferred, although his team joins Whites Creek of Nashville, Tenn., as the only two-time Arby's champion.
First, the Virginia High School League has to rescind a new rule that prohibits teams from playing in four-game holiday tournaments. That likely will happen.
Then Deans has to consider what other holiday tournament offers he'll get with Timmy Basham coming back along with Curtis Staples and Shannon Taylor, who are the leading candidates for Timesland Sizzlin' Sophomore of the Year.
Deans likes this tournament. He should since the Patriots' record is 11-1. It also has been a good tournament for the Roanoke Valley District. Six RVD teams have appeared in this tournament and only one - William Fleming in 1986 - failed to reach the final. Pulaski County played in the 1983 and 1984 title games while PH was in the finals in 1987, 1988 and this year.
\ Salem's basketball team gets around to opening the season Friday against visiting Christiansburg. A late-finishing football season caused coach Len Mosser to postpone two pre-Christmas holiday games and cancel another when a suitable make-up date couldn't be worked out.
Salem might have one of its better teams in recent years, but the Spartans have already received one blow. Ryan Palmer, a 6-3 1/2 sophomore, injured his knee in practice and will be lost for the season after having reconstructive surgery.
Palmer was one of the few Salem basketball players who didn't play football. "He was in one of our scrimmages when we didn't have the football players and he scored a lot of points. He was our sleeper and we were really counting on him."
Palmer played junior varsity last year and had progressed to where Mosser counted on him as one of the top individuals on a varsity that has four starters back plus two transfers.