Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 8, 1995 TAG: 9503080060
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
``We could each score a lot of points if we wanted to,'' said SAM POINDEXTER, the playoff Most Valuable Player and a former standout at Bluefield College. ``But we wanted to play to win. Everyone has contributed. It's all teamwork.''
For DES, the whole team has been greater than the sum of the parts. Three different players had 40-point games during the season: Poindexter (48), CHARLES ARNOLD (48) and BOBBY HUNTER (40). But only DAVID SMITH (20.5 points per game) was among the league's top dozen scorers.
Thus, individual honors were not as important as the team trophy. And for the third year in a row and eighth time in nine years, DES (formerly Craft's Crew) took home the biggest prize.
In the Major Division Tournament finals, DES (15-1) got 24 points from Poindexter and Smith as it turned back L.R. Davis 96- 87 at the Pulaski Armory.
``Dublin Express Stop came on board and helped us out this year,'' said Smith, who was named co-MVP of the league for the season, of their sponsor. ``They'll be proud of this [championship]."
Smith shared the MVP honors with DENNIS SHREWSBERRY of Stevens Funeral Home. Both played their college basketball locally - Smith at Radford, Shrewsberry at Virginia Tech.
DES showed the balance that characterized it all season in the finale. TIM PENN, who played at RU, and Arnold, who played at Bluefield, each added 17. JEROME BROWN, another former Bluefield standout, had 12.
Making the squad's teamwork even crisper is the fact that five of them - Poindexter, Brown, Arnold, Hunter and GARY ALEXANDER - have been on the squad since its inception.
``We just play fundamental basketball,'' said Brown. ``If someone is hitting, we go to them. We try to get the ball inside as much as we can. If that isn't open or isn't working, we take it outside.''
All of this has led to many individual honors for a team that doesn't put much stock in those things. Before this season, Hunter, Brown and Poindexter all had won or shared the league MVP honors, while Brown, Hunter, Poindexter, Smith and Arnold all had won or shared the playoff MVP trophy.
More importantly, it has meant a lot of championships for the squad. And more could be in store. The nucleus of the team ranges in age from 29 to 31. And they have been successful in other recreation leagues - including winning the Roanoke City A League in 1994 and falling by one point in the championship game this year.
L.R. Davis (14-2) got 22 points from CHRIS DALTON and 20 from DOREYA JONES and MARK MILLS in the final. Both of its losses this season were to DES.
Jones and LEE AYERS of Heilig-Meyers shared the league's Horizon Award for the most outstanding young player.
In the semifinals, DES got 26 points from Poindexter as it downed Heilig-Meyers 93-71.
Meanwhile, L.R. Davis beat Stevens 86-81 in overtime. Jones drilled 20 points while MARK MILLS had 17.
Shrewsberry scored 21 in a losing effort for Stevens and in the process became the first player in league history to top 4,000 points for his career.
McDonald's edged Pulaski Hospital 79-77 in the Minor Division Tournament finals.
CHAD OWEN led McDonald's with a game-high 25 points while Minor Tournament MVP AARON MERCHANT added 21.
DARRELL LESTER paced PCH with 23 points and BRIAN UNDERWOOD had 20.
Stevens tied a league record by scoring 100 or more points in eight games this season.
MORE ROUNDBALL RESULTS: Corning remained unbeaten in the Montgomery County Men's Fastbreak League as it edged Above the Rim 82-80.
Balanced scoring led Corning (6-0) to victory as TIM PENN and SHAWN McMILLAN each scored 17 points for the victors.
DARYL PRICE (24) and DON BURGESS (23) combined for more than half of Above the Rim's points.
The Purple People Eaters moved into a tie for second place as they beat New River Casting 66-54. BRIAN MANLEY led PPE with a game-high 26 points, including five three-pointers.
The Purple People Eaters and Crocket Home Improvement, which was idle, are 3-3, three games behind Corning.
PIERRE PEOPLES of Crocket leads the league in scoring at 29.3 points per game. Corning's McMillian has hit a league-high 21 three-pointers.
MORE SPECIAL OLYMPICS HOOPS: A name was omitted from the list of Special Olympics participants who placed at the recent Southwest Regional basketball tournament at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
BRIAN GNANN of Pulaski finished second in his division in the individual skills competition.
Also LUKE WILLIAMSON of Pulaski led the Special Olympics oath and SEAN WILBURN of Blacksburg and DEAN BURTON of Pulaski carried the Special Olympics torch.
Finally, the Blacksburg team played a demonstration full-court game using a unified sports approach. This involves players with and without mental disabilities playing on the same teams. It fosters understanding and friendships while challenging all players to improve their skills.
DEADLINE APPROACHING: Friday is the last day to sign up for a NASCAR trip and weight training.
The First Union 400 Winston Cup stock car race in North Wilkesboro, N.C., is the destination for a trip sponsored by the Christiansburg Department of Parks and Recreation.
The cost is $50 per person and includes transportation and admission ticket to the April 9 race.
For information, call the recreation department at 382-2349.
Weight training is offered for beginner and intermediate levels through the Montgomery County Department of Parks and Recreation.
The classes will be held at the Weight Club in University Mall in Blacksburg. Classes are Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, running for three weeks beginning Monday.
Youth classes are 4:30-5:30 p.m. and cost $15. Adult classes are 5:30-6:30 p.m. and cost $20.
For information, call TIM COONEY, the athletic supervisor, at 382-6978.
CLARIFICATION: The golf lessons sponsored by the Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Department will be held at Cox's Driving Range in Blacksburg and Bobby's Golf Center in Christiansburg.
Classes are Monday-Wednesday and Tuesday-Thursday, running for five weeks beginning March 27.
Youth classes are 6-7 p.m. and cost $15. Adult classes are 7-8 p.m. and cost $20. Participants will purchase range balls and a discount for the class. They should bring their own clubs.
Registration continues through March 24.
For information, call the recreation department at 382-6978.
by CNB