Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 23, 1992 TAG: 9203230051
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
\ You can trace the lineage of Patrick Henry Group AAA boys' basketball championships back to 1970.
That's when old Jefferson High School under Dick Kepley ended a 15-year state title drought by Roanoke city schools. It was the beginning of what led to the latest championship by Patrick Henry, which claimed the 1992 title Saturday night in Charlottesville with a 79-71 victory over Booker T. Washington of Norfolk.
Jefferson closed several years after its 1970 championship season, and Kepley moved to Patrick Henry as head coach. One of his assistants was Woody Deans, who took over at Patrick Henry when Kepley retired. Deans guided the Patriots to the 1988 Group AAA crown, then reloaded to win again this year.
Only two people have been connected with all three state-title teams. Hank Hamrick was an assistant under Kepley and Deans, and Mike Franklin, the junior-varsity coach under Deans, was a player on the 1970 squad.
"That 1970 title was probably the toughest. We beat Maury, and the score was tied when their best player was on the line for two free throws. He missed both of them, and Wayne Holland was fouled on the rebound. Holland made the winning free throw after time had expired," Hamrick said.
Franklin almost wasn't with the current group for the latest success.
"If it wasn't for my wife [Jackie] and mother [Lorraine], I might have quit," said Franklin, who works full time for the city of Roanoke. "They talked me out of it."
So did sophomores Curtis Staples and Shannon Taylor.
"They talked about last year enjoying having me as a coach. I love the kids, so I stayed with it," said Franklin.
Hamrick doesn't know which title was more enjoyable.
"Every group is different. I know it's more fun to win every four years than every 18," said Hamrick, who himself once considered retiring but came back at Deans' urging.
It is possible the Patriots might compete for the title again next year if everyone comes back and help is provided in finding a center and point guard to replace 6-foot-7 Jonas Callis and Troy Manns.
Staples and Taylor, a couple of sophomores who made their presence felt around the state, almost will certainly return.
Junior Timmy Basham, a 6-6 Division I prospect, who has been the subject of rumors linking him to attending Oak Hill, says, "I'll probably be back."
George Lynch, a junior on the 1988 team, also said the same thing in the afterglow of winning the title. A little over a month later he transfered to Flint Hill after being recruited by Stu Vetter.
Basham says Oak Hill isn't the school that he would move to. He admits talking to Vetter "a while back." Vetter has moved to Harker Prep in Potomac, Md. As of this weekend, though, Vetter was out of a job after officials at Harker announced the school was closing because of financial problems.
Sunday, the Patriots got the first of what will be many welcoming celebrations. In the Patriots' gym, the band played the school fight song and Roanoke Major Noel Taylor and schools superintendent Frank Tota congratulated the team.
Taylor cited the double effort at Patrick Henry to have good academics and athletics. The mayor has announced his retirement and said that since he lives close to the school, he hopes to see more games next year.
Tota asked the players what the school system could do in honor of the state title.
"They said, `Rings.' They'll all have rings," said Tota. "I don't believe a coach in the Roanoke Valley has won two state championships, so we'll do something for the coach as well."
Tota summed up this year's championship squad the best: "What impressed me is this team didn't have one star. It had lots of stars."
Dr. Elizabeth Lee, the PH principal who goes to the dressing room after each game to congratulate the team, said, "They were indeed champs spelled with three A's."
Deans realized this year's squad didn't like being compared to the 1988 team, though there were many similarities that caused people to make comparisons.
"After this," said Deans, "I think people will ask how does the 1988 team compare to the 1992 team?"
Deans said he told his squad Saturday night before it went out to face Booker T. Washington "that this was just another day at the office, but [freshman coach] Leon Caldwell added, `Yeah, but today is pay day.' "
by CNB