Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 21, 1992 TAG: 9203210143
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
When the Lancers scored the game's first eight points Friday at University Hall, it only seemed to inflame the Warriors.
Now the Lancers know it's never wise to tug on Superman's cape.
Nansemond River snapped to attention and was almost unstoppable down the stretch in a 97-82 victory.
The Warriors (26-1), who broke a Group AA state tournament scoring record, advanced to a 2:45 p.m. game today against Northside, a 91-78 winner over Matoaca in the other semifinal, for the state championship.
Laurel Park (23-5) ended its second straight trip to the state tournament with a memorable performance by 6-foot-9 Odell Hodge. Hodge finished a sensational high school career with 38 points - 27 in the second half - 13 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Hodge scored eight of his points in the first 2:06 of the third quarter, and the Lancers, who had appeared dead in the water at halftime, had rallied from 17 points back to cut the deficit to three points.
Two free throws by Ralph Carter made the score 72-69 with 5:35 to go in the third. Then came a Warriors turnover - one of 24 for each team - and Laurel Park was in good shape to either go one down or tie.
Ronnie Jackson, who would score 18 for Laurel Park, launched an errant 3-point attempt. Derrick Bryant, the Warriors' star, responded with a short jumper to extend the lead to 74-69. Jackson followed by misfiring on another 3-point try, Bryant came back to stick another jumper and Laurel Park had missed its last chance.
"That was a momentum killer for us," Hodge said. "We should have been more patient and looked for a better shot."
Laurel Park coach Frank Scott didn't second-guess his best outside shooter.
"We would have preferred to go inside with it, but Ronnie was feeling it," he said.
Nansemond River, a gifted team under the leadership of a veteran coach, Spencer Mayfield Jr., has gotten into a sort of pattern lately of jumping out to big leads and then letting up. It happened in the Region I championship victory over Matoaca and again in the state quarterfinals against Robert E. Lee of Staunton.
"That will happen with young kids," Mayfield said. "Kids are kids. This is the youngest team I've ever had."
He was referring to chronological age, but the Warriors started four seniors and a junior. Bryant, who transferred from Lakeland before this school year, has played varsity basketball four years.
The Warriors' experience level had minimal impact on the outcome. Their athleticism, basketball skills and depth were the difference.
"That was like an all-star team," Scott said. "They were stronger and deeper than we were. They were a very athletic team that didn't lose much when they had to go to the bench."
Nansemond River ripped Laurel Park's press for 74.1 percent shooting (20-for-27) in the last 16 minutes.
"We like that uptempo game," said Nansemond River guard George Porter, who had 25 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals. "We can play at the slower pace, but we'd really rather not."
Porter was one of four Nansemond River players who scored in double figures. Lee Wilson made four of five shots and finished with 12 points. Clyde Boone added 12 more points and combined with Wilson for six rebounds. The Warriors outrebounded Laurel Park 45-40 .
Laurel Park ended the regular season as the No. 1-ranked team in the state.
"I'm proud of these kids," Scott said. "We lost 10 players off last year's team and still made it back to the state tournament. They're all overachievers, as far as I'm concerned."
\ see microfilm for box score
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.