ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 27, 1996 TAG: 9603270028
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
Under normal circumstances, recreational basketball leagues come off without much of a hitch, the occasional disagreement between players and referees aside.
But this year has been anything but normal for area adult basketball leagues. Record amounts of snowfall in the New River Valley have delayed the end of the season for area leagues by as much as a month, and several leagues are still in the middle of their season-ending tournaments.
Two leagues that were lucky enough to complete play are the town of Pulaski and the Montgomery County Parks and Recreation departments. In the Pulaski men's basketball league, Dublin Express Stop defeated L.R. Davis, 57-55, in the tournament championship game.
Dublin Express Stop was led by tournament Most Valuable Player Bobby Hunter's 23 points. Jerome Brown added 14 in the win. L.R. Davis' Steve Barber, the regular season co-MVP (along with L.R. Davis' Aaron Merchant), tossed in 18 in the loss.
The championship marked the ninth time in the last 10 years that Dublin Express Stop has captured the tournament championship, compiling an astounding 154-11 record since 1987.
Estel Singleton of Golden Corral finished the season as the league's leading scorer, averaging 33.7 points per game, the third-highest average in the history of the Pulaski league. Larry Gibson set the mark in 1985, averaging 35.7 ppg.
In the Montgomery County men's fast-break league, perennial league powerhouse Corning once again captured the title, defeating Above The Rim, 93-82, in the tournament championship. Tim Penn paced Corning with 23 points while teammate Dawes Blevins hit for 21, including five three-pointers. Daryl Price scored 20 points and Sam Poindexter added 12 in the losing effort.
Corning, Above the Rim and Original Flow tied for the league's regular season title with 8-1 records. Chip Walton of the Currents finished as the league's leading scorer, averaging 32.1 ppg.
The Christiansburg Parks and Recreation Department hasn't been as fortunate as its counterparts in Pulaski and Montgomery County with snow cancellations and makeup dates, but its Men's Open and Over 28 divisions are nearing the beginning of league playoffs.
In regular season action, former Blacksburg High School and Virginia Tech star Jay Purcell's Sanico team is atop the Open division with a 9-1 mark. L.T.'s Team is one game back of Sanico with an 8-2 record. In the Over 28 classification, Southern States is a perfect 10-0 with First National Bank/New River Nissan-Pontiac hot on their heels at 8-2.
Christiansburg Parks and Recreation Department Supervisor of Athletics, Chuck Muncy, said that league tournaments in Christiansburg are slated to be completed in early April.
If you have an idea for a story or note about recreational sports, call Chad Willis at 381-1672 in Montgomery County or Radford or 1-800-346-1234, extension 672 elsewhere or fax to 381-1656.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 linesby CNB