Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 30, 1995 TAG: 9511300022
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That experience won't do him much good in the court where he will spend many of his nights this winter - the basketball court. Wall, after years of helping with various programs in Timesland, is a head coach in addition to his law practice. He takes over as coach of the Roanoke Catholic boys' team and hopes to point the Celtics' program in the right direction.
``I have been involved with basketball a long time, managing my time to do just that,'' Wall said. ``It's a little different being a head coach. [Former pro football great] Sam Huff said we all start out even with 24 hours a day. To my way of thinking, what I'm doing is not a big issue, though I do get asked that a lot. It's [coaching and law] a strange combination.''
The Vanderbilt graduate learned much of his basketball by watching the Commodores play when he was in undergraduate school. He has helped Buddy Martin and Brenda King with the boys' program at Radford, where he has one of his law offices, and this past winter was an assistant at Roanoke Catholic.
``I have a business-oriented practice, so I can do a lot of work in the office when I make my own hours,'' Wall said. ``At Vanderbilt, I was in a teaching-coaching program, but I took a turn to law. I still never got away from coaching. Basketball has always been an important part of my life.''
Wall doesn't shy away from challenges. He has the Celtics playing Group AAA Pulaski County for the second consecutive season to help his team learn. Eventually, he wants a schedule oriented toward public and private schools around Roanoke to restore interest in the program to the level it reached in the 1960s, when Catholic could compete with many of the area schools.
``We have a unique opportunity to make the basketball program at Roanoke Catholic a real model. You don't need the numbers you do for football,'' said Wall, who celebrated with every other Celtics supporter when the school on Jefferson Street won a Virginia Independent Schools' Division II football title a year ago.
For Wall's first year, the Celtics will be rebuilding, with only Chris Lothes and Brendan McCarthy as returning double-figure scorers.
North Cross, under coach Jim Muscaro, might be ready for a return to the top of the VIC. The Raiders have won 11 games each of the past two seasons, but really haven't been a state private school power.
They may not be a state power this season, but the Raiders will compete with two starters - Brian Whittaker and William Watkins - back, along with a solid supporting cast.
Last season, the Raiders won six of their last eight games. During the regular season, North Cross beat state champion Carlisle and Group A runner-up Glenvar.
This season, North Cross adds seniors Jon Mull and Brad Densmore. Neither has played basketball for the Raiders, but they are excellent athletes. Add this to the fact that coaches in the VIC say Muscaro is one of their best and North Cross appears formidable.
Roanoke Valley Christian also has a top coach in Jim Farmer. He doesn't have the experience of Muscaro, but certainly has the know-how. Farmer can turn to solid double-figure scorers in Mark Arbogast and Joel Nester. Simon Foster also is an offensive threat.
The Eagles should be the main challenger to Carlisle in the VIC South, but they must erase the memory of losing seven of their last eight games in 1994-95.
Here is a capsule look at Timesland's private school teams:
NORTH CROSS
'94-95 record: 11-10 overall, 8-6 in Virginia Independent Conference.
Coach: Jim Muscaro, 23rd year.
Returning starters: William Watkins, 6-0, Sr., G, 7.6 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game; Brian Whitaker, 6-3, Sr., F, 14.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg.
Other key players: Jeff Baetz, 6-2, Jr., F, 4.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg; Jon Mull, 6-3, Sr., C; Don Haga, 6-0, Jr., G, 2.1 ppg; Brandon Lacroix, 5-8, Soph., G; Brad Fielder, 5-11, Fr., G; Brad Densmore, 6-2, Sr., F; Joel Stover, 6-0, Soph., G; David Foster, 6-3, Jr., C; James Kelly, 6-1, Sr., F.
Outlook: North Cross should be very competitive among the Virginia Independent Conference teams. The Raiders play a strong schedule that includes public and private schools.
ROANOKE CATHOLIC
'94-95 record: 9-15, 7-7.
Coach: Dick Wall, first year.
Returning starters: Chris Lothes, 6-2, Sr., C, 8.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg; Brendan McCarthy, 6-0, Jr., G, 14.0 ppg.
Other key players: Aki Al-Zubaidi, 6-0, Jr., G; Alex Dickson, 5-11, Jr., G; Chad Wall, 5-11, Jr., G; Terron Reed, 6-2, Soph., C; Mark Reynolds, 6-2, Soph., C.
Outlook: Roanoke Catholic has a young team, but has enough height and returning offense to keep the Celtics competitive in the VIC. A tough nonconference schedule should help this team develop.
ROANOKE VALLEY CHRISTIAN
'94-95 record:10-12, 5-9.
Coach: Jim Farmer, fifth year.
Returning starters: Mark Arbogast, 6-0, Sr., G, 14.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg; Simon Foster, 5-10, Sr., G, 9.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg; Joel Nester, 6-4, Sr., C, 13.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg.
Other key players: Josh Hurt, 6-1, Sr., F; Eric Johnson, 5-9, Soph., G; Chris Huffman, 5-11, Jr., G; Mark DeLong, 5-11, Jr., G.
Outlook: There isn't much experienced height, but the Eagles have a strong group of guards who should keep them in most games. That might be enough to make the Eagles the main challenger to Carlisle in the VIC South.
by CNB