Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 24, 1994 TAG: 9412290049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWIGHT FOXX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Glenvar's gifted Corey Willis wrapped up the Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament with a stunning performance on Friday night.
Willis scored 24 of his 39 points in the first half as Glenvar handed Carlisle its first loss of the season, 95-82, to win the tournament title at North Cross High School.
The left-handed junior forward missed his first two shots of the game, then made his last 10 first-half attempts as Glenvar took a 44-40 halftime lead.
He scored 11 points in the third quarter, including two 3-pointers in the first four minutes that helped Glenvar (4-1) build a 72-52 lead that put the Chiefs (6-1) away despite a heroic fourth-quarter effort.
Willis, who was named the tournament's most valuable player after the game, said he had to redeem himself after a poor outing in Thursday's semifinal win. The 39 points are his best in a regular-season game and second only to his 41-point effort in a summer league game.
``I had to prove something to myself after yesterday's game,'' Willis said. ``I was goofing off before the game [Thursday]. Today, I was a little bit more focused.''
On fire, might be more appropriate. With four minutes left in the third period, Willis had scored 35 of his team's 61 points. He got some help from James Williams, who scored 11 of his 20 points in the second half.
``He's got all the potential to do that every night,'' Glenvar coach Art Lawrence said of Willis. ``I knew he played well, but I didn't realize he had put up that many points.''
``He's a really good player,'' Carlisle coach Jeff Adkins said. ``[Willis is a] good, solid player who hits the open shots. He's definitely the best player we've played.''
Roanoke Valley Christian (7-2) won the third-place game, 73-60, over Martinsville.
Hal Johnson scored 29 points to pace North Cross (3-4) to a 70-57 win over Lynchburg Christian in the fifth-place contest.
by CNB