ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 28, 1996 TAG: 9611290080
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-3 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
MEMO: NOTE: Also ran in today's Current.
For the first time in years, three teams have a chance to win the Roanoke Valley District boys' basketball title.
While Patrick Henry and William Fleming remain the favorites for the crown, Pulaski County also could be a factor.
Coach Pat Burns says his Cougars might have the material to make this one of the most interesting RVD races in years.
Still, the favorite is Patrick Henry. New coach Jack Esworthy welcomes back three starters from a team that was runner-up to William Fleming a year ago and a Northwest Region loser to eventual Group AAA champion George Washington of Danville.
``I see us as very athletic. The more times we can go up and down the court, the more it will benefit us,'' said Esworthy, who spent the past five seasons as head coach at Central Dauphin East in Harrisburg, Pa.
The district's best returning player, 6-foot-4 junior Devon ``Boo'' Battle, leads the Patriots. Battle is very athletic and extremely tough on the boards. He averaged 15.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game last season.
``As I come down here and look at players, talk to my assistants, basketball is just basketball,'' Esworthy said. ``Just as officials call the game differently in different parts of Virginia [and you must adjust], I have to get a feel in the Roanoke Valley District.''
To make his transition smoother, longtime PH assistant Mike Andrews steps up from handling scouting duties to join Esworthy on the bench. Mike Franklin remains the junior varsity coach, meaning Esworthy retains half the staff of former Patriots boss Woody Deans.
At William Fleming, new coach Roland Lovelace will be looking for inside help after losing Timesland's player of the year, James Stokes, and 6-foot-6 Sterling Tate. Those two helped three returning guards and forward Charles Burnette lead the Colonels to a Group AAA semifinal.
``I really don't know what to expect,'' said Lovelace, who is the offensive coordinator for Fleming's football team.
Like Esworthy, Lovelace is fortunate to have some of his predecessor's staff around to ease the transition. The returning aides to former coach Burrall Paye are top assistant Marshall Ashford and junior varsity coach Joe Gaither.
``I feel like we'll be competitive with any other tandem in the league,'' said Lovelace, who coached the girls' basketball program before taking over the boys this season. ``I'll work my way into it as I go along.
``I'll use the same approach I used with the girls. I think people respond more if you tell them how you feel about things. I'll tell them what I expect and go on from there. If they think you want them to hustle, they will. If they think you don't care if they hustle, they'll do that too and not hustle.''
Pat Burns expects a lot of his Pulaski County team. The Cougars don't have a lot of height or returning scorers, but Burns is excited. Not even the usual late start because of the football playoffs that ended Friday night for the Cougars has dampened his enthusiasm.
Pulaski County has four players who were starting at the end of the 1995-96 season, led by point guard Craig Hodge and wing Dorian Hendricks.
One of the Cougars' best players might be 6-3 Robert Rogers, a junior swingman who didn't play last season after injuring an arm in a summer accident. Another player who missed last season is talented guard J.R. Brown.
``It's a young team with two seniors,'' Pulaski County's coach said. ``We had a good summer. We have two great players in Hendricks and Rogers. Hodge could be one of the best point guards I've had.
`` I don't know if I can find a team I've coached in 22 years that has as many athletes. We're not strong physically, but we're capable of running and jumping.''
Rogers has proven himself as a 3-point threat. Hodge didn't play until the second semester last season because of football - he's a standout running back - and scored 58 points in 10 games. But 44 of those points came in the last five games.
There isn't much experience at Franklin County. Still, coach Calvin Preston feels his Eagles will be stronger than last season's squad, which managed only four victories.
``I see this team as one of our better ones, as far as talent goes,'' Preston said. ``The kids know the game of basketball.''
Franklin County lacks height, but ``there's been a lack of height here for years,'' Preston said. ``We don't grow them as big as we have in the past, so we'll try to compensate with quickness and good fundamentals.''
Though three starters are back, the Eagles have barely 10 points per game in returning scoring.
Size and offense aren't problems at Cave Spring. The Knights have 6-6 Alex Phillips back after he averaged 12.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Those are the most impressive returning statistics in the district, except for those of PH's Battle.
``Alex has improved tremendously,'' said Billy Hicks, who succeeds Chris Carr as Cave Spring's head coach. ``He's just worked so hard. He's much more of an athlete. He runs better and jumps better.''
Most of the state's NCAA Division III schools are recruiting Phillips, and some Division II and low-level Division I schools also have inquired about the senior.
``We have enough outside shooting here where if they double on him, we can hurt them,'' Hicks said.
The Knights have only one other returning starter - senior forward Ryan Boitnott - and few other returning scorers.
Here is a closer look at each of the teams:
CAVE SPRING
1995-96 record: 11-11 overall, 5-3 in the Roanoke Valley District.
Coach: Billy Hicks, first season.
Returning starters: Alex Phillips, 6-6, Sr., F, 12.8 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game; Ryan Boitnott, 6-1, Sr., F, 3.0 rpg.
Other key players: David Harms, 6-2, Sr., G, 4.2 ppg; Spencer Baird, 5-10, Sr., G; Micah Bibby, 5-9, Sr., G; Ricky Dierker, 5-11, Jr., G; Corey Paxton, 6-1, Jr., F; Darnell Glover, 6-4, Jr., F; Wally Kern, 5-9, Jr., G.
Outlook: Phillips is one of Timesland's best big men. There is little experience to go with him, however, so he'll have to carry much of the load in December. Harms is a fine shooter, but Cave Spring might not emphasize 3-pointers quite as much as it did the past two seasons.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
1995-96 record: 4-17, 2-6.
Coach: Calvin Preston, fifth season.
Returning starters: Kermit Noel, 5-11, Jr., F, 6.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg; Henry Eggleston, 6-1, Jr., F; Jeremy Adkins, 6-0, Sr., G, 6.5 ppg.
Other key players: Jason Sawyers, 5-8, Jr., G; Phillip Clayborne, 5-10, Sr., G; J.P. Nolen, 6-4, Sr., C; Bobby Basham, 6-2 1/2, Jr., G; Jamie Tuck, 5-11, Jr., G; Patrick Drakeford, 6-3, Jr., C; Jim Dillon, 6-3, Jr., G.
Outlook: Franklin County has a lot of experience, and Preston says his team will be much improved. The Eagles do not have much returning offense, so finding a ``go-to'' player will be important.
PATRICK HENRY
1995-96 record: 13-10, 6-2.
Coach: Jack Esworthy, first season.
Returning starters: Devon ``Boo'' Battle, 6-4, Jr., F, 15.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg; Ronnie Kasey, 5-6, Sr., G, 8.5 ppg; Malik Shariff, 6-3, Sr., C, 7.8 ppg.
Other key players: Colby Leftwich, 6-4, Sr., F, 5.3 ppg; Michael Peery, 6-0, Fr., G; Dominique English, 5-11, Jr., G; Jonathan Helms, 6-4, Jr., F-C.
Outlook: Esworthy says former coach Woody Deans ``didn't leave the cupboard bare,'' and that is a big reason the Patriots are a favorite to win the district. Battle is one of the league's best athletes and perhaps the top returning player.
PULASKI COUNTY
1995-96 record: 6-13, 0-8.
Coach: Pat Burns, 11th season.
Returning starters: Dorian Hendricks, 6-3, Soph., F, 11.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg; Ronald Branch, 6-3, Sr., F, 9.7 ppg; Craig Hodge, 5-10, Jr., G, 5.8 ppg; Jerome Thomas, 6-3, Jr., F-C.
Other key players: Justin Peek, 5-7, Soph., G, 5.4 ppg; Robert Rogers, 6-3, Jr., F; J.R. Brown, 6-0, Sr., G; Chris Wright, 5-11, Jr., G.
Outlook: This is Burns' most athletic team, and if the Cougars can mesh, they could be terrific. Like PH, Pulaski County lacks height, but the Cougars' depth might be decisive in this district.
WILLIAM FLEMING
1995-96 record: 19-8, 7-1 (district regular-season and tournament champions, Group AAA semifinalist).
Coach: Roland Lovelace, first season.
Returning starters: Richard Wilson, 5-7, Sr., G, 5.0 ppg, 6.1 assists per game; Brad Dunleavy, 6-3, Sr., G, 8.6 ppg; Charles Burnette, 6-3, Sr., F, 10.9 ppg.
Other key players: Percy Pannell, 6-3, Sr., F; R.J. Reynolds, 5-8, Sr., G, 5.1 ppg; William Hankins, 6-0, Jr., G; Jaron Walker, 6-3, Sr., F; Michael King, 6-2, Soph., F; Michael Fleshman, 6-3, Soph., F; Anthony Bryant, 6-4, Fr., C; Derrick Turner, 5-11, Jr., G.
Outlook: Fleming has the district's strongest contingent of guards, with all three back from last season. The only inside player with experience is Burnette, who is a fine athlete. If the new inside people work out, Fleming will extend its string of Northwest Region appearances that dates to the presidency of Jimmy Carter.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1, Patrick Henry; 2, William Fleming; 3, Pulaski County; 4, Cave Spring; 5, Franklin County.
LENGTH: Long : 165 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Alan Kim. Pulaski's Ron Branch goes up for a reboundby CNBduring a home game against Cave Spring last season (Ran in Current).