Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 12, 1995 TAG: 9502140097
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
Last year's Group AAA state runner-up team lost in overtime here. This year's squad has yet to play out the postseason, but it can long remember the easy time it had disposing of Franklin County 74-65 Saturday in a Roanoke Valley District game.
Fleming never trailed and controlled the action throughout, led by a strong performance from junior center James Stokes.
In the first 2:39 of the second quarter, Fleming's brand of basketball, if repeated often enough in the next month, might be good enough to win a state title. The Colonels went on an 11-2 spurt and had five assists including a behind-the-back pass by Stokes to Charles Burnette for a layup.
``It [the behind-the-back pass] was just something that came to mind,'' said Stokes, who led Fleming's assault with 25 points and 17 rebounds.
``This was one of our best games and one of my best,'' Stokes added. ``I had been in a slump lately, but I finally came out of it.''
Stokes' work on the boards led to a 42-24 advantage for Fleming (14-4 overall, 5-1 district). Point guard Derrick Hines added 17 points and had eight of his team's 14 assists. Keath Hampton had 15 points on outside shooting and Burnette added 14.
``We're starting to have confidence in ourselves and not just Derrick,'' said Fleming coach Burrall Paye. ``Derrick is a great player, but we want other players to have confidence in themselves.''
Franklin County (10-8, 2-4) got 19 points from Chad Foutz and 11 each from center Carlos Holland and reserve Shane Nance. The Eagles couldn't match Fleming's firepower as the Colonels hit 30 of 55 shots compared to 25-of-57 for Franklin County.
``Stokes is a horse when he makes up his mind to get it. Tonight he went to the boards and played hard,'' said Franklin County coach Calvin Preston.
``I don't think we played as well as we have. William Fleming played like it was on a mission. My biggest concern with my team is we didn't have a lot of fun tonight. The kids looked drained.''
Franklin County made a brief run at the Colonels after the second-quarter spurt. The Eagles responded with nine consecutive points after a timeout to make it 28-23, but Fleming finished the half with 7-3 run.
``We lose our intensity when we get a lead,'' said Paye. ``We got it back when the lead was seven or eight points so we're getting better.''
by CNB