Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 18, 1995 TAG: 9501180084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWIGHT FOXX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Power forward James Stokes led the Fleming quintet with 22 points and eight rebounds as the Colonels prepared for Friday night's showdown with Cave Spring by defeating visiting Halifax County 74-66 on Tuesday night in a non-district matchup.
Four of Fleming's players scored in double figures, and the Colonels shot 56.9 percent (29-for-51) from the field. Point guard Derrick Hines scored 19 points, center Sterling Tate had 18 points, seven rebounds and four blocks and shooting guard Keath Hampton added 10 points.
It was Hampton and Stokes who got the Colonels rolling early. The two combined for 23 points in the first quarter to help Fleming take a 29-19 lead through one period. The Colonels shot 70.6 percent (12-for-17) in the first quarter. If not for two blocks by Halifax power forward Shannon Martin, the percentage would have been 80.
Hampton said he felt he had to take more of a leadership role at the start of the game because Hines did not start. He scored all 10 of his points in the period and had three assists, one steal, one block and no turnovers. Hampton finished the game with team highs of five assists and three steals.
``I had to do something to get us going because I knew he [Hines] wasn't going to be out there at first,'' Hampton said.
Hines made his presence felt in the second quarter, when he scored eight of Fleming's 12 points to keep the Comets at bay.
Halifax cut the Colonels' lead to 33-28 with 4 minutes, 37 seconds left in the second quarter on a jumper by Michael Jackson. His opportunity was set up when Hines and Stokes missed on a spectacular attempt at an alley-oop.
Fleming's senior guard redeemed himself by shaking and baking his way to six points in the final three minutes of the half to push the lead back to nine, 41-32, at intermission.
Burrall Paye, the Colonels' coach, said Hines didn't start because he missed practice Saturday with the flu and not because Hines missed a wide-open, finger-roll layup in a victory over Franklin County on Friday night.
In the third period, Hines and Tate combined for 16 of Fleming's 20 points as the Colonels pushed their lead to 16, 61-45, by shooting 61.5 percent (8-for-13) in the quarter. Tate, who was playing his second game since arthroscopic surgery on his right knee during the off-season, said he felt better in this game than in Friday night's victory over Franklin County.
``I was just a little bit nervous in the first game,'' he said. ``I came back tonight and did what I had to do.''
Hampton and Stokes agreed it was good to have Tate back.
``He makes us a little bit more reliable inside, and he gives us a little more height,'' Hampton said.
Halifax (6-7) rallied to 69-60 with 3:15 remaining, but Stokes and Hampton put away the game 90 seconds later.
With less than two minutes remaining, Hampton threw the ball off the left side of the backboard and Stokes grabbed it and threw down a two-handed reverse jam that gave Fleming a 72-60 advantage. The Colonels' faithful went wild, knowing the game was over, and even the non-partisan observers such as Northside's Sam Barrett and Karim Thompson appeared impressed.
Fleming (10-1) then could turn its attention to Friday night's showdown with Cave Spring. The game will be for first place in the Roanoke Valley District.
Stokes made it clear he wants sole possession of first place in the district.
``We're the first-place team,'' the junior forward said. ``They [the Knights] don't deserve it.''
by CNB