Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 1, 1994 TAG: 9412010059
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That might happen for PH seems to be the choice for last while Pulaski County could emerge as the top challenger to William Fleming.
William Fleming is the top choice, but the Colonels aren't a rubber stamp for first as it appeared they might be early in the summer.
That's because 6-foot-6 Sterling Tate, who is Fleming's main height, injured his right knee and underwent surgery on it this fall. Right now he's not due back until after Christmas and no knows how good he'll be.
In between, there are Cave Spring, Pulaski County and Franklin County. Each of those teams have most of their starters back from last year and will be ready to replace Fleming at the top if the Colonels stumble.
Patrick Henry, the only RVD team to win a state championship since Jefferson did it in 1970, has but one starter back and faces what might be the toughest schedule in the district. So PH might be a spoiler instead of a contender in defending the regular season title it won a year ago.
When teams started summer league play, William Fleming roared through a schedule of Group AAA tough teams such as Booker T. Washington and Gar-Field. Then the Colonels didn't play as well late in the summer and that was followed by Tate's injury.
``We could have a very good team if everyone is healthy,'' said Fleming coach Burrall Paye. ``In June, we were super. We went down hill after that.''
The Colonels get a schedule break. After playing a group of non-district games and a rare league contest against Patrick Henry on Dec. 21, Fleming is off for nearly a month until Jan. 13. During that time, Tate might return and the Colonels might be ready to go.
The Colonels' 6-3 junior forward, Quentin Haskins, is also recovering from a broken arm.
This is not to say that Fleming is going to fold up and go away. As long as Derrick Hines is around, Fleming is a threat to win any game. Hines refused to let Fleming lose during the tournaments last year and the Colonels pulled together to finish second in the Group AAA state tournament.
Fleming forward James Stokes is one of the state's best while Heath Hampton is an excellent outside shooter. Quincy Freeman is another guard who logged playaaing time last year.
Cave Spring has never won an RVD boys' basketball title, but the Knights came close last year. They lost control of the race in the final two weeks and then lost in overtime to Fleming in the tournament so that the Knights didn't make the Northwest Region.
Four starters return from a year ago for new coach Chris Carr, who turned out an RVD junior varsity championship team for the Knights.
``Matheny is a shade behind Derrick as the best player in the district,'' said Carr. ``If things go as I hope, maybe he can be the best player by the end of the season.''
Carr says Irvin is a step behind these two. Irvin suffered a severe ankle injury over the summer and has made a lot of improvement since then. Still, he might not be 100 percent before January, and that's assuming he doesn't reinjure the ankle.
``The pressure I have is what I put on myself,'' said Carr. ``But I expect great things out of this team.''
So does Pat Burns at Pulaski County. The Cougars also have a player, Ty Hash, whom they'll push as being the best in the district.
Pulaski County's chances of challenging for the district title depend on Eric Webb, a 6-2 forward, who must return to the same style of play he had two years ago as a member of the Sizzlin' Sophomore team in Timesland.
Last year Webb missed half the season because of a broken jaw in football and when he did return, he averaged 20 points a game though he still didn't seem like the same player he was as a sophomore.
Webb is healthy. If he regains his basketball prowess and plays as one of the district's best players, Pulaski County will be hard to handle.
``I think we were left out last year by people who thought teams were good and who thought there are good teams coming back this year. I guess people forgot that Eric Webb was first team [all district and all region] as a sophomore,'' said Cougar coach Pat Burns about his club being overlooked.
``We're going to put five people on the floor who can score. We didn't always do that last year. If people want to play triangle-and-two on Hash and Webb, there will be people who make them pay.''
Franklin County has plenty of experience and points returning. ``We hope we're one of the quickest teams,'' added Franklin County coach Calvin Preston. ``Last year we had only one senior, so we should be better because of experience.''
K.C. Hancock was a Sizzlin' Sophomore last year while joining Carlos Holland and Chad Fourtz as returning double-figure scorers. Foutz is an excellent 3-point shooter as is fourth starter, Jason Conklin.
``We'll probably press and change defenses to offset a lack of height,'' said Preston, who has the district's shortest team with no one over 6-3.
Patrick Henry will be led by 6-6 Chris Combs, who is more known for his football than basketball prowess. He is the son of former ABA basketball player Chris Combs, but will sign a Division I football grant in February.
PH's other firepower might come from Monty Smith, who led Timesland last year while playing at North Cross. The question is can Smith, at only 6-0, be a productive Group AAA forward and score inside as he did for the Raiders, who played in the Virginia Independent Conference?
by CNB