Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 1, 1994 TAG: 9412210033
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITE|
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Picking the last spot is easy. 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. He's not due back until after Christmas and no one 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 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 tough Group AAA 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 downhill 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, except his is a broken arm.
This is not to say that Fleming is going to fold up and go away. As long as point guard 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 playing 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 league. 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 ones coming back. I guess people forgot that Eric Webb was first team [all district and all region] as a sophomore,'' said Cougar coach Pat Burns, who feels his team has been 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 will 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 Foutz 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 teams 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?
CAVE SPRING
93-94 record:10-10 overall, 5-3 in the Roanoke Valley District
Coach:Chris Carr, first year
Returning starters:Dusty Beakman, 6-0, sr., guard (8.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg); Matt Matheny, 6-4, sr., forward, 22.2 ppg., 7.4 rpg.; James Irvin, 6-3, sr., forward, 15.4 ppg., 4.0 rpg.; Jeff Lang, 5-11, jr., guard, 9.2 ppg., 5.6 rpg.
Other key players: John Finnerty, 6-4, sr., forward; Billy Frantz, 6-2, jr., guard-forward; Chris Johnston, 6-3, jr., forward; Will Freany, 6-7, sr., center; Danny Shertz, 6-0, jr., guard; Olin McClain, 6-2, jr., forward; Doug Cullinan, 6-1, sr., forward-guard; Mike Collins, 5-11, sr., guard-forward.
Outlook:The Knights return four starters and two of the district's premier players - Matheny and Irvin. Cave Spring's weakness is on the boards unless the inexperienced Freany comes through. If he comes through, the Knights can play with anyone in the state.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
93-94 record:8-13 overall, 2-6 in the Roanoke Valley District
Coach: Calvin Preston, fourth year
Returning starters: Carlos Holland, 6-2, sr., forward (16.5 ppg., 11.3 rpg.); K.C. Hancock, 6-1, jr., forward (12.1 ppg.); Jason Conklin, 6-1, sr., guard (7.4 ppg.); Chad Foutz, 5-8, sr., guard (18.5 ppg., 3.4 apg.).
Other key players:Ashley Moore, 5-8, jr., point guard; Tony Wright, 5-11, jr., point guard; Shane Nance, 6-2, sr., forward (4.0 ppg.); Larry Turner, 6-3, sr., center.
Outlook: Like Cave Spring, Franklin County returns four starters. Like the Knights, height is a problem, but in this case there's no big man on the scene. Franklin County will be very quick with good shooters and likely to improve on last year's record.
PATRICK HENRY
93-94 record: 15-7 overall, 6-2 in the Roanoke Valley District
Coach: Woody Deans, 12th year
Returning starters:Chris Combs, 6-6, sr., forward, 13.0 ppg., 6.7 rpg.
Other key players: David Barker, 6-2, jr., forward, 4.0 ppg.; Phillip Taylor, 6-4, jr., center; C.J. Walker, 5-8, sr., point guard; Brooks Berry, 6-4, jr., guard; Monty Smith, 6-0, sr., forward, 24.1 ppg. at North Cross to lead Timesland; Brian Jackson, 5-8, jr., guard; Jeff Eenigenburg, 5-11, sr., guard.
Outlook: It's hard to imagine Patrick Henry being picked for last place in the district. It's also hard to imagine not picking the Patriots last with only one starter back. If Smith comes through, PH will not finish last, but the Patriots still don't figure to compete for the title.
PULASKI COUNTY
93-94 record:7-13 overall, 2-6 in the Roanoke Valley District
Coach: Pat Burns, ninth year
Returning starters: Eric Webb, 6-2, sr., guard-forward-center, 20.0 ppg.; Ty Hash, 6-31/2, sr., wing, 18.2 ppg.; John Lilly, 6-4, sr., center.
Other key players:Jamar McNair, 5-9, jr., guard, 5.0 ppg.; Matt Burns, 6-3, sr., forward, 5.0 ppg.; Drew Miller, 6-4, jr., forward; Bryan Ratcliff, 6-3, sr., wing; Ron Branch, 6-3, soph., wing; Derrick Hunter, 5-9, jr., point guard.
Outlook:If Webb returns to his sophomore playing form, Pulaski County will compete with anyone in the district. Cougars showed how good they can be by beating William Fleming at the end of the regular season last year on the Colonels' court. Hash is one of RVD's premier players. If Lily doesn't come through, Cougars hurting for height.
WILLIAM FLEMING
93-94 record:20-6 overall (NW Regional champions, Group AAA second place), 5-3 in the Roanoke Valley District
Coach: Burrall Paye, 18th year
Returning starter: Derrick Hines, 5-8, sr., guard, 17.1 ppg., 6.1 assists per game; Keath Hampton, 6-1, sr., guard, 12.3 ppg; James Stokes, 6-4, jr., forward, 11.0 ppg; Sterling Tate, 6-6, jr., forward, 4.7 ppg.
Other key players: Quincy Freeman, 6-0, sr., guard; Roderick Allen, 6-0, sr., guard; Percy Pannell, 6-2, soph., forward; Ray Copney, 6-2, jr., forward; Kevin Webb, 6-3, sr., guard.
Outlook:With Tate out until January, Fleming is hurting inside. Hines is the best guard in the state and one of the best in the nation. Stokes is a premier junior and Hampton should be one of Timesland's best outside shooters. Fleming has been the most consistent team in the RVD for the last 25 years and you always have to figure them as a region and state contender.
by CNB