ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602270032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LIBERTY DOWNS Altavista 66-50 for tournament title.
Two years ago, Mark Hanks won his first Seminole District tournament championship as the coach at Liberty High School. Last year, the Minutemen came in as the league's regular-season champs, only to lose to Altavista in the semifinals.
On Friday night in Liberty University's Vines Center, Liberty High got revenge and the Seminole tournament title. The Minutemen outdueled the slow-paced Colonels, 66-50.
Thanks to a bye earned by winning the regular season, Liberty won't play again until Friday in the Region 3 tournament. Altavista will face Fieldale-Collinsville on Tuesday at Rustburg.
``It was special because last year there was a little bit of a hollow feeling,'' Hanks said. ``Even though we made the final four, we didn't feel real good about our game that night. The kids we have back really wanted this one.''
Nobody wanted it more than Liberty's Cheyney Preston. Normally averaging seven points per game, Preston scored 11 against Altavista (17-5). Nine of those came in the second half, seven in a crucial fourth quarter when the Minutemen (20-0) outscored the Colonels 21-17.
``A lot of times we don't know where the scoring's coming from,'' said Hanks. ``Preston coming in and hitting 11 was big.''
Also big was the absence of Dennis Brown, Altavista's season-scoring leader. Brown suffered a deep thigh bruise Thursday in the Colonels' 57-50 semifinal win over Jefferson Forest.
Hanks said the Minutemen didn't know Brown would be out until game time. But when he found out, he knew what to expect from Altavista - a snail's pace offense. ``They really took a lot of air out of the ball,'' Hanks said.
Meanwhile, Liberty pumped it up, particularly in the second quarter. After Liberty scored nine in the first quarter, J.J. Coles and Raymond Arrington each had nine in the second as the Minutemen outscored the Colonels 24-16 and at one time led by as many as 15 points. Altavista pulled to within six in the third, but Preston and some tough defense kept the Minutemen safe.
Coles led Liberty with 19 points and Arrington added 14. Kirk Reighard and Brian Clark topped the Colonels with 20 and 13 points, respectively.
``It wasn't the smoothest game offensively, but I was pleased with the defense,'' said Hanks, who added that he was glad Altavista presented an unexpected and unusual game plan. ``You've got to play all kinds when you get into tourney play.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines KEYWORDS: BASKETBALLby CNB