
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 1, 1994                   TAG: 9412010056
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: CHRIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

GATEWAY DYNASTY ROLLS ON

Dynasties in the sports world may be a vanishing breed, but don't tell that to Gateway Christian Academy where the boys basketball team is seeking its 15th straight Southwest Region title.

If coach Stan Smith's squad is to reach that milestone, team members will have to survive the early part of the season without their best player, Aaron Meadows, who will miss the first three weeks with an injured shoulder. Meadows averaged 16 points per game for last year's runner-up in the Old Dominion Athletic Christian Schools state tournament.

Helping to offset the loss of Meadows will be Monty Pence, Ryan Gordon and Jay Perfator, all of whom have played together for the last three years.

"We will be counting on a lot from them," Smith said. "I really believe we can win the regular season and regionals."

In the absence of Meadows, one of the team's newcomers will have to pick up the slack on the offensive end. Scott Perfator may help fill that void. Perfator has the physical skills to be a force in the state tournament, he lacks only experience, Smith said. Allen Surface and Chris Curtner will also have significant playing time this season.

"What I'm looking for is to build experience in the young players but still win the regionals," Smith said.

by CNB