Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 21, 1992 TAG: 9203210212
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Vikings got only a glance at the Warriors, who whipped Laurel Park 97-82 in the first game of an afternoon basketball double-header at the University of Virginia.
"We don't know much about them," Vikings guard Matt Hill said. "We only saw them for about 20 minutes before our game. They looked like a great team. You have to be a great team to make it this far."
Northside seemed ready to take its place among the state's best AA teams after dismantling Matoaca 91-78. The Vikings blistered the Warriors with 85.7 percent shooting (18-of-21) in the second half and got a state record (for all classifications) of 28 rebounds from Walt Derey.
"When we saw Nansemond River play, we were really thinking more about our game," Northside point guard Aaron Burford said. "We weren't really worried about Nansemond River. We can worry about them now."
Northside may be in something of a physical mismatch, but that hasn't seemed to bother the Vikings before. As far as the mental aspect, Northside has held its own all year.
"Almost all the games we've played have been tight," guard Kelly Dampeer said. "We're ready for it now."
\ The Virginia High School League legislative council voted Friday to adopt a rule that permits basketball teams to play 18 games and one invitational tournament of either three or four games.
Teams may play 20 games if they don't play in a tournament. Adoption of this rule means that Patrick Henry will be able to defend its title in this year's Arby's Classic in Bristol, Tenn.
The council turned down a proposal to permit football games against out-of-state teams to count in the point standings to determine teams for the state playoffs. It also adopted a calendar next year that allows the basketball tournament to be held on corresponding dates with this year and the Group A and AA wrestling to be combined at the Salem Civic Center.
\ Laurel Park's Odell Hodge scored 38 points in his career finale, which left him with an unofficial total of 2,530, the most ever for a public school player in Virginia.
\ Matoaca's Harold Deane, whose 40 points against Northside was one short of the AA tournament record set by Blacksburg's Sidney Snell in 1977, is the son of Virginia State University coach of the same name.
The elder Deane grew up in Roanoke and attended Lucy Addison High.
Jimmy Williams, the Matoaca coach, took Deane out of the game before he could set the record.
"I didn't know about the record," Williams said. "We were just trying to win the basketball game."
\ Patrick Henry struggled some in the first half of the 65-54 victory over Highland Springs and ended up in a 26-26 tie with the Springers at halftime.
The reason the Patriots were having such a difficult time in the first 16 minutes?
"We were nervous," point guard Troy Manns said. "This is the state tournament. The first half was our worst this year, but we came together at the half and said that we'd come too far and worked too hard for this."
Particularly hard hit by big-game butterflies was sophomore guard Curtis Staples.
"Hey, I'm just a sophomore," said Staples, who led five Patriots scorers in double figures with 18 points. "I was nervous. But Jonas [Callis] talked to me and told me I had to calm down. After that, I was better."
\ The rhetoric going into tonight's AAA title game between Patrick Henry and Booker T. Washington had already heated up Friday.
Fightin' Bookers coach Barry Hamler said one of the Patriots' assistant coaches, whom he would not identify, told him in passing, "We'll kick your tails tomorrow night."
Hamler did not react kindly to that.
"We'll see if they kick our tails," he said. "I always thought PH had a class program. I thought that [remark] was kind of cheap."
\ THIS AND THAT: Pulaski County's girls, who will be playing Phoebus in today's Group AAA title game, left for home after their 63-43 victory over Petersburg in Thursday's semifinals. The Cougars attended class as usual Friday and conducted a light workout. "We wouldn't have had anything to do in Charlottesville," Pulaski County coach Rod Reedy said. . . . A major blow to Laurel Park's chances came when point guard Chauncey Strange fouled out with 4:07 still to play in the third quarter against Nansemond River. "That really hurt us," Lancers coach Frank Scott said. "He got a little overzealous, I guess." . . . After Northside's victory, an official from the VHSL was talking to a coach from a part of the state where the Vikings are little known. "Does that look like a basketball team to you?" the official asked. "No, it does not," came the reply. "But they do look like a nice golf team." . . . This is the first time since 1967 that Northside will play in a state basketball championship. The Vikings were runners-up to R.E. Lee of Staunton. . . . All the Vikings were talking about Derey's record. "I'm proud of you, man," Aaron Burford told him. "You deserve it." Said Matt Hill: "I'm not even sure he knew he was doing it. He was just awesome. Incredible." . . . Roanoke city schools superintendent Frank Tota made a surprise visit to the PH dressing quarters. "You bring a great deal of credit to the Roanoke Valley schools," he told them. . . . With PH leading 63-54 with 25 seconds left, Highland Springs coach George Lancaster pulled his starters despite the fact the Springers had the ball. Presumably, Highland Springs could have squeezed out three possessions and still had a chance. "They gave up," PH's Timmy Basham said. "When they jerk their starters like that, it's like they're saying they have no chance at all. That surprised us."
by CNB