Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 23, 1992 TAG: 9201230159
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
VMI ROUTS BLUEFIELD 105-71
While he hesitates to refer to himself as a catalyst, there is no denying that VMI has played better basketball since junior guard Juan Banks entered the Keydets' starting lineup.A reserve who played a total of 161 minutes in his first two seasons, Banks has been a major contributor since becoming a starter six games ago. VMI's fortunes have changed along with his.
Wednesday night at Cameron Hall, the Keydets won their third consecutive game by beating NAIA member Bluefield College 105-71.
VMI junior center Lewis Preston dominated the Ramblin' Rams by scoring a career-high 29 points and setting a Cameron Hall record with 20 rebounds.
"It was just one of those nights when it felt like everything was going in," said Preston, who also had four of VMI's Cameron Hall record 10 blocked shots.
The Keydets (6-7) also got career highs from freshmen Bryan Woolsey, who had 22 points, Bobby Jones (11 points) and Damon Richardson (nine) and sophomore Jonathan Goodman (14).
Senior Percy Covington had 10 points for his fourth consecutive double-figure scoring game.
VMI held a 57-41 advantage in rebounding and forced Bluefield (9-8) into 21 turnovers.
"The thing I was interested in was to see if our team could stay fundamentally sound," said VMI coach Joe Cantafio. "We most likely did. We had a chance to do some crazy things, and we didn't."
While Banks didn't score and played just eight minutes, VMI won for the fourth time in his six starts. The Keydets will try to even their record on Saturday when they play host to Southern Conference rival East Tennessee State.
"I don't know anything about that," Banks said of the correlation between his starting and VMI's winning. "I think the reason we're playing better is because everybody has a lot more confidence in each other.
"We started out shaky, but the difference now is we believe we can win instead of hoping we can. Everybody's in a different mindset."
Recruited out of Sanderson High in Raleigh, N.C., Banks, a biology major, always had upper classmen in front of him.
Then senior guard Marty Chadwick left school early in the season, and Banks got more time in the rotation. He made his first start against Richmond on Jan. 8. The Keydets lost, but Banks hit for a career-high 12 points.
The next game at Western Carolina, sophomore guard Sean Spriggs and senior forward Charlie Petzold joined Banks in the starting lineup and VMI began its current run.
Through VMI's first seven games, Banks averaged 11.9 minutes and scored 17 points. In his six starts, he has averaged over 20 minutes and scored 48 points.
"[Banks] has really done a great job," said Cantafio. "When he does what he's capable of doing on the court, he's a good player. He's a good shooter, plays strong defense and goes to the boards better than anyone we've had in the two spot in a long while." \
see microfilm for box score