Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503030138
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
Still, nothing could have prepared the Colonels for the manner in which their season ended this season.
Fleming, last year's Group AAA runner-up, saw its state championship dreams shattered Thursday night. The Colonels were whipped by E.C. Glass 67-51 in a semifinal of the Northwestern Region tournament.
The two-time defending region champion, Fleming was looking to advance to state tournament play for the third consecutive season. Instead, the Hilltoppers advance to Saturday's regional title game at Potomac, a 62-40 winner over Woodbridge, and will make their first state tournament appearance since 1967.
Considering the way it played Thursday, Glass (16-8) will be a worthy entrant in the tournament field. The Hilltoppers have won eight consecutive games and finished with a 12-0 record at home this season.
The loss was hard to swallow for a Fleming squad that had several key players back from last season's team, including star point guard Derrick Hines, who finished his high school career with a 16-point night.
``This is real disappointing,'' Hines said. ``They outplayed us from the jump ball.''
Hines did not finish his career with one of his finer shooting performances, missing 14 of 19 field-goal attempts. Then again, hardly anyone had the touch for the Colonels, who made only 34 percent of their shots (17 of 50).
The Hilltoppers' 2-3 zone defense had a lot to do with that. After Fleming's Keath Hampton opened the game with a pair of 3-pointers, Glass did a good job of jumping out at Fleming's shooters. The Hilltoppers got most of the rebounds - they had a 37-27 advantage on the boards - and turned many of the Fleming misses into fast-break baskets.
``We've got good shooters, but we didn't shoot the ball well,'' said Burrall Paye, Fleming's coach, who added that the Hilltoppers ``are playing the best I've seen them play.''
Fleming and Glass split two regular-season meetings - the Hilltoppers claimed the first game 53-46 and the Colonels prevailed at home 66-49 - but Thursday's game was far from a tossup. Fleming (19-6) scored only 15 points in the first half and never mounted a run in the final two quarters.
Glass never trailed after the opening six minutes and took control by outscoring Fleming 17-5 in the second quarter.
The Hilltoppers opened the period with a 15-3 run fueled by forward Bryan Jones, who knocked down three jumpers, including a 3-pointer, in scoring seven consecutive points.
After Fleming's James Stokes made one free throw to pull the Colonels to 15-13 with 6:16 left in the second quarter, the Hilltoppers reeled off 10 points.
With Fleming shooting the ball as poorly as it was, and with E.C. Glass sitting in a 2-3 zone, the lead might has well have been 20 points. The Hilltoppers, who shot 57.5 percent from the floor (23-for-40), never led by fewer than 10 points in the second half.
``They went at it harder than we did,'' Paye said. ``They were aggressive on offense and aggressive on defense. That's what it takes to win championships.''
Point guard Andre Kendrick led Glass with 21 points and he paced the transition game by breaking away for two layups early in the second half when the Colonels still were within striking distance.
``In the month of February, Andre Kendrick has been one of the top players in the state,'' said Glass coach Mike Defrene, a former player at George Mason University. ``He's been averaging about 24 points a game - and that's against the tournament teams. There's no one who can match up with him in the open floor.''
Fleming was hampered by foul problems all night, as Hampton and Stokes picked up three fouls each in the first half. Both eventually fouled out. The Colonels were whistled for 27 team fouls, 19 in the second half. Glass was in the bonus with 2:20 left in the third quarter.
``We were so deep in foul trouble, we couldn't do what we wanted to do,'' Paye said.
Hines scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, 10 in the final quarter when the outcome was a foregone conclusion. Hampton finished with 12 points. For Glass, Jones and Jamar Harden scored 16 and 13 points, respectively.
Hines, who is expected to continue his career at the college level, would not say what his plans were for next year.
``All I know is I'm going to take a week off,'' he said. ``I didn't think this would end like it did.''
by CNB