Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 1, 1994 TAG: 9412210031
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S16 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The answer is simple. Nothing. No one could write a script good enough to follow the one from last winter when Salem met and subdued Northside six times - the last victory coming in the Group AA state semifinal championship game. Then the Spartans became the first Blue Ridge District team to win a state title since Glenvar did it in 1975
Northside coach Billy Pope would like a chance at redemption this year. It's tough when you lose six to one team and win the other 22 games There is every indication that the Vikings have a chance to get at least part of the glory, as they are the preseason Blue Ridge District favorite.
There is also a team to play the part of Salem in William Byrd. The Terriers have the most points returning from last year's district race and they were the third squad in 1994 that couldn't beat either Salem or Northside, though Byrd was always close.
Salem, picked for third, won't be that bad. The Spartans, though, won't be the same as last year as they begin rebuilding. Alleghany has a new coach and a new hotshot in Donnie Costigan, a transfer from Covington Boys' Home. There he was second in Timesland scoring and fourth in 3-point shooting, as he jacked up 161 shots and hit 46.6 percent from downtown.
Lord Botetourt should be improved, while Rockbridge County once again has one of the most inexperienced teams.
Northside is playing its toughest schedule in years. Pope has the Vikings taking on Patrick Henry and Northside also will face G.W. Danville in the Crestar Classic. The Eagles could be the best team in the Northwest Region if William Fleming falters.
That's not all. The Vikings challenge Group AAA toughies E.C. Glass and Cave Spring. The district, compared to that, might seem easy.
``There's no one out of the district that is not a very tough opponent,'' said Pope, whose team will polish off those goodies with possibly their easiest non-district foe, perennial Region IV power Blacksburg.
Justin Porterfield is a showcase guard for Northside. He will have to take over for departed All-Group AAA selection Nathan Hungate. Dana Gibson, at 6-foot-6 1/2, is the district's tallest starter. Porterfield, though, is the only double-figure scorer back for Northside.
This might be William Byrd coach Paul Barnard's best team. Seniors Michael McGuire, Kevin Tuck and Jeremy Obenchain, along with junior Chris Childress, should be ready to step forward. Two years ago, they were in the Region III semifinals and last season the Terriers were perhaps the state's best 12-9 team.
``This is probably the most experience we've had since we had the Three Amigos [Sydney and Paul Jordan, and Brod Bons],'' said Barnard, referring to another of his Region III entries that lost a tough game to Laurel Park in 1990.
``Two things help Salem and Northside. They have played in the state and they can play off the confidence and experience of that. We've been to the regional with these kids, but we have to learn how to take the next step. We have to overcome distractions. We have to realize there is no ``I'' in team, get through the district first, the regional next and then the state,'' said Barnard.
That's the way Salem did it, going to the Region III tournament two years ago and losing tough in the semifinals before winning it all last year.
``The goal I have in mind for this team is not to be so concerned with what last year's team did,'' said Salem coach Charlie Morgan. ``We need to be concerned with what we can do this year. We need to try and improve every game.''
The Spartans have three starters back - Matt Woolwine, Bryan Monroe and Kevin Garst.
Morgan will change from last season, when he relied on six or seven players a game as the Spartans rolled through the tournaments. ``I want to be able to play nine to 10 guys this year. We lack height now. I'm also concerned with leadership because [Group AA Player of the Year] Mark Byington provided a lot of that last season. We have to have a vocal leader.''
Garst should be one of the best players in the district, though this season he'll have to be the go-to man if the Spartans are to be successful. Both Woolwine and Monroe are the hard-working overachievers every team needs.
Lord Botetourt has experience, but is limited in height. The Cavaliers get leading scorer Shannon Williams back after he was granted an extra year's eligibility by the Virginia High School League on an appeal concerning the age rule. He'll team with double-figure scorer Ryan Salvi as the Cavaliers' returning starters.
``We're not going to play with a post man because we don't have anyone who can post up,'' said Cavalier coach Don Meredith. ``We have to play slashing, cutting offensive basketball. Cut, pick, fill and move. We should be pretty exciting in running it up and down, though we don't have a lot of depth or height.''
Meredith also will be trying to overcome illness that has forced him to miss several days of practice. While he tries to recover, he has been getting help from longtime assistant coach Ed Purdy.
``He's been with me since 1973-74. We have a [similar] philosophy,'' Meredith said.
Alleghany will operate under new coach Carl Watson, who takes over for Jimmy Smith. Under Smith, the Mounties were a dominant Blue Ridge District team in the late 1980s.
Watson inherits a squad of guards. Costigan joins returning front court star James Hughes, who was one of the Blue Ridge District's better players a year ago.
Alleghany opens with tough Cave Spring and won't have any height. ``But I believe we have some people who can shoot it,'' said Watson. ``We have some quickness, but we're not overly quick. We're actually only average.''
Rockbridge County, coached by former William Fleming and VMI star Damon Williams, returns no double-figure scorer and has the least height in the district. So the Wildcats might have a problem bettering last year's 0-10 district record.
``We're smaller and quicker than last year's team,'' said Williams. ``I believe we'll be a lot better team. The kids are mingling well together on this year and that's a pretty good sign. I'd say we can finish in the middle of the pack. We might surprise some people if I can find a few players to help our [two] returning starters.''
It's the Blue Ridge District's turn to play host to the Region III tournament. As luck would have it, the Group AA state wrestling tournament is scheduled in the Salem Civic Center the same weekend, so only the first two nights of the basketball tournament will be played there. The final night probably will be at Salem High.
ALLEGHANY
1993-94 record:12-9 overall, 4-6 in the Blue Ridge District
Coach: Carl Watson, first year
Returning starters: Sherell Bolden, 5-11, sr., guard, 7.0 ppg.; Todd Crawford, 5-10, sr., guard, 10.4 ppg.; James Hughes, 6-2, sr., guard, 12.1 ppg.
Other key players: Donnie Costigan, 5-11, sr., guard, 23.8 ppg. (at Covington Boys' Home); Dusty Rowland, 6-2, sr., forward, 5.0 ppg.; Rashad Worth, 6-2, sr., forward; Jeremy Hayslett, 6-2, sr., forward; Mike Newman, 6-7, sr., center; Jason Petty , 6-2, sr., forward.
Outlook: Alleghany has a new coach and a lot of firepower. The Mounties lack height, which could hurt them. More important will be catching on to a new system.
LORD BOTETOURT
1993-94 record: 9-10 overall, 2-8 in the Blue Ridge District
Coach: Don Meredith, 19th year
Returning starters: Ryan Salvi, 5-8, sr., guard, 11.4 ppg.; Shannon Williams, 6-1, sr., forward, 14.3 ppg., 3.8 rpg.
Other key players: Jonathan Neal, 6-3, sr., wing, 4.4 ppg.; Keith Shupe, 6-1, sr., center; Marques Wilson, 5-3, jr., guard (transfer from Patrick Henry); Michael Pauley, 5-11, jr., guard; Lee King, 6-1, sr. forward; John Morris, 6-2, sr., wing.
Outlook: Shannon Williams got an extra year of eligibility after appealing to the Virginia High School League. His return makes Lord Botetourt a respectable team in a tough district. The Cavaliers have some experience and firepower, but still will struggle to reach the upper echelon.
NORTHSIDE
1993-94 record: 22-6 overall, 8-2 in the Blue Ridge District
Coach: Billy Pope, ninth year
Returning starters: Justin Porterfield, 5-10, jr., guard, 10.8 ppg., 5.0 apg; Dana Gibson, 6-61/2, sr., center, 8.0 ppg., 6.4 rpg.; Maurice Garrison, 6-0, sr., forward, 10.6 ppg., 6.1 rpg.
Other key players: Sam Barrett, 6-3, sr., forward, 7.2 ppg., 4.4 rpg.; Chad Brammer, 6-2, sr., guard, 7.0 ppg.; Karim Thompson, 6-1, sr., forward; Darius Henderson, 6-2, sr., forward; Ben Peete, 5-10, jr., guard; Ashley Baroulette, 6-4, sr., center (transfer from New York).
Outlook:Northside lost leading scorer and All-Group AA first-team player Nathan Hungate, but the Vikings have everyone else back from last year's team that lost six games to Group AA state champion Salem. The Vikings have dominated the Blue Ridge District for six years with a 45-10 mark in league competition and they have never lost more than three games in one year.
ROCKBRIDGE
1993-94 record: 6-13 overall, 0-10 in the Blue Ridge District
Coach: Damon Williams, second year
Returning starters: Ricky Wright, 5-10, soph., point guard; Rob Hoyle, 6-3, sr., center, 7.3 ppg..
Key players: Jason Remillard, 5-7, sr., guard; Brian Ross, 6-1, sr., forward (transfer from Richmond area); Chris Work, 5-8, sr., guard (transfer from New York); T.J. Pettis, 6-4, jr., center.
Outlook: Rockbridge County has the least amount of experience and the Wildcats will struggle for a second straight season.
SALEM
1993-94 record: 25-1 overall (Group AA and Region III champions), 10-0 in the Blue Ridge District, 1st place
Coach: Charlie Morgan, third year
Returning starters: Bryan Monroe, 6-0, sr., guard, 6.2 ppg.; Matt Woolwine, 6-21/2, sr., forward, 12.3 ppg. Kevin Garst, 6-31/2, sr., forward (moves to guard), 10.4 ppg.
Other key players: Ryan Reeves, 6-4, sr., center, 4.8 ppg.; Chad Pendleton, 6-4, sr., guard-forward; Eric Millard, 5-9, jr., guard; Matt Edwards, 5-8, jr., guard; Andy Beach, 5-10, jr., guard.
Outlook: Salem won't repeat last year's performance, a once-beaten year that wound up with the Spartans winning the Group AA state championship. Salem should be very competitive, though, with enough experience coming back to challenge most any team in the region.
WILLIAM BYRD
1993-94 record:12-9 overall, 5-5 in the Blue Ridge District
Coach: Paul Barnard, eighth year
Returning starters: Jeremy Obenchain, 6-2, sr., forward, 12.0 ppg., 8.1 rpg.; Michael McGuire, 6-21/2, sr., guard, 13.6 ppg., 3.1 rpg.; Chris Childress, 6-3, jr., forward, 14.4 ppg., 7.6 rpg.; Kevin Tuck, 6-3, sr., forward, 4.8 ppg., 3.6 rpg.
Other key players: Matt Bryant, 5-11, sr., guard, 2.6 ppg.; Mayo Wilson, 5-8, soph., guard; Phillip Muddiman, 6-2, sr., forward-center; Frank English, 5-10, soph., guard-forward.
Outlook: The Terriers have more points coming back than any other Blue Ridge District team. This could be Barnard's best team, yet Byrd doesn't have height and that will be a problem. Look for Byrd-Northside to be the same kind as the Salem-Viking series that went six games last year.
by CNB