Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 1, 1994 TAG: 9412210036
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
``This can be a very good team,'' says Glenvar coach Art Lawrence. ``Talent-wise, it's probably the best we've had since the 1989-90 team. From top to bottom, this team has more talent.''
If you have forgotten, that squad went 19-5 before losing 70-67 to Bland in the Region C. Bland went on to the state championship game with James River while Glenvar stayed home. It was a bad dose of medicine, for Glenvar's other losses were all to James River, which was the eventual state runner-up.
Top to bottom, the Pioneer District this year is very tough. Parry McCluer returns height and scoring from a squad that went 24-3 a year ago while losing a close game in the Group A state championship against William Monroe.
Glenvar lost Jason Anderson and Brad Melton, who combined for nearly 700 points last year. The rest of the team had only around 900 points. So why is Lawrence so optimistic?
It's because of 6-foot-5 Peery Taylor and 6-4 James Williams. They give Glenvar a strong inside game. Taylor performed well in summer camps, but Williams came up at the end of last year and averaged seven points a game down the stretch.
``The No. 1 thing is that we'll be two deep at each position,'' said Lawrence. ``We'll try to be a pressing, up-tempo team. We've been a patient team.''
Glenvar has two experienced guards - Jason Darnall and Nick Varney - back along with sophomore Josh Williamson and Mike Phillips, who will log a lot of playing time. Corey Willis is a veteran small forward who will get help from Daniel Webb.
Parry McCluer was better known for football until last year. The Fighting Blue are confident enough about doing well this year and have entered the Nations Bank Holiday Hoops Classic in Salem, which features some of Timesland's strongest Group AA and AAA teams.
Parry McCluer will be led by 6-5 Mike Clark (15.6 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game) and 6-5 Brian Sizemore (8.6 ppg., 6.4 rpg.), who give the Highlanders' front line something to shoot for.
Covington has more height than usual to go with quickness. Returning points aren't plentiful for the Cougars; Robert Roman (6.6 ppg.), a 6-0 junior guard, is the top returning scorer.
After those three teams, anything could happen, except for Highland making any kind of a run at more than just a few victories.
Third-year coach Randolph Howard is looking for his best team at James River. The Knights will be trying to improve on last year's season, when they were 4-15. James River, along with Bath County, returns the most starters (four) of any team in the Pioneer District, but in that group they don't have a player who averaged double figures a year ago.
``Height will be a problem,'' said Howard. ``We're not very quick, but we've improved [over last year]. We have some kids who will be OK if we can rebound.''
Craig County returns three starters for new coach Eric Crabtree. Guards Robby Huffman and James Fisher both averaged double figures and 6-4 Chris Blankenship gives the Rockets inside strength.
To do well, Craig County must get production from untested 6-5 Casey Oiler at center and hope that guards Eric Gillingham and Kyle Crawford can hold their own.
Bath County, under new coach Richard McElwee, returns the most points (more than 40 per game) of any team. The Chargers will be led by 6-1 Pat Lennon (12.6 ppg.), 5-10 Kris Phillips (9.6 ppg.) and 5-8 Billy Thomas (8.2 ppg.). Bath County's weakness is height, with no one on the varsity over 6-1.
CRAIG COUNTY
93-94 record: 5-11 overall, 4-8 in the Pioneer District
Coach:Eric Crabtree, first year
Returning starters:Robby Huffman, 6-3, sr., guard, (15.3 ppg.); James Fisher, 6-1, jr., guard (10.7 ppg.); Chris Blankenship, 6-4, sr., forward, (7.9 ppg.).
Other key players: Eric Gillingham, 5-10, soph., guard-forward (transfer from Indiana); Kyle Crawford, 5-8, jr., guard; Casey Oiler, 6-5, jr., center.
Outlook: The Rockets have many of the same players who helped the football team to respectability. While this team isn't a threat to win the title, Craig County has the height and returning points to play a spoiler's role in determining who wins the regular season crown.
GLENVAR
93-94 record: 14-8 overall, 9-3 in the Pioneer District
Coach: Art Lawrence, eighth year
Returning starters: Corey Willis, 6-1, jr., forward, 8.0 ppg., 5.0 rpg.; Jason Darnall, 6-0, sr., guard, 7.0 ppg.
Other key players: Nick Varney, 5-9, sr., guard, 5.0 ppg.; Peery Taylor, 6-5, jr., center; Josh Williamson, 6-0, soph., guard; Matt Atkinson, 6-0, sr., forward; James Williams, 6-4, jr., forward; Mike Phillips, 5-9, sr., guard; Daniel Webb, 6-1, sr., forward.
Outlook: Despite losing many top players from last year, Glenvar comes in a step ahead of the rest of the field. Part of this is because of Taylor, who had a tremendous summer camp and could be one of the state's toughest big men on the Group A level. There are enough points returning and plenty of talent for the Highlanders to make a strong run for regional and possibly state honors.
\ JAMES RIVER
93-94 record: 4-15 overall, 2-10 in the Pioneer District
Coach: Randolph Howard, third year
Returning starters: Brian Shorter, 6-0, jr., guard/forward (9.3 ppg., 3.8 rpg.); Isaac Minnis, 5-5, sr., guard (6.2 ppg.); Jason Peery, 6-0, jr., forward-center (9.1 ppg., 3.6 rpg.); Shahan Burrell, 6-0, jr., center (7.6 ppg., 4.9 rpg.).
Other key players: Curtis Nolan, 6-0, sr., forward (3.2 ppg.); Matt Johnson, 5-9, soph., guard; Scottie Britt, 5-7, sr., guard.
Outlook: James River has the most starters returning of any Pioneer District team. The Knights should be improved, but they might not be ready to return to the power years of the late 1980s.
by CNB