ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 29, 1996 TAG: 9612310032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
There was no comeback magic for a second consecutive evening for Patrick Henry.
For that matter, the Patriots, who had battled from behind in a semifinal to make the NationsBank Holiday Hoops Classic championship game, couldn't handle the pressure in a 70-65 loss to Riverside of Durham, N.C.
The Pirates applied a tricky pressure defense at just the right times to wipe out a couple of PH leads and claim the title for the second consecutive year. Before the title game at the Salem Civic Center, Riverside hadn't shown an inclination to use a pressure defense.
``It was a big factor,'' said Larry Parrish, Riverside's coach. ``We hadn't used it before because we hadn't felt that we had to use it.''
When Patrick Henry (7-2) grabbed a lead in the second quarter, though, Riverside (9-1) finished the half with its press and took a 29-28 lead as Antoine Morman hit a layup with seven seconds remaining.
When the Patriots' Ronnie Kasey, whose two 3-point shots triggered a rally to tie Gar-Field in the semifinal round and force an overtime, hit his fourth shot from beyond the arc Saturday, PH moved on top 55-50. Riverside then went to the press again.
If the Patriots didn't turn over the ball, they hurried down the floor and took a bad shot. Either way, it worked against them.
``We were sloppy at two points in this game,'' said PH coach Jack Esworthy. ``In a game with two quality teams, if you get sloppy for a minute, it can cost you.''
Riverside's fourth-quarter press keyed a 16-4 spurt that should have finished the Patriots. Morman's layup made it 64-59 with 1:38 left, and Greg Hicks hit two free throws for a seven-point lead with 37.6 seconds remaining.
PH had enough heart to nearly pull it out again. After a quick trade of points, the Patriots' Boo Battle hit a follow shot and was fouled with 10.9 seconds remaining. Battle missed the free throw, but Colby Leftwich rebounded and converted a layup to make it 68-65 with 7.2 seconds left.
In the semifinal round, under the same conditions, PH forced a five-second count and got the ball out of bounds. This time, Riverside got the ball in and Hicks was fouled. He sank two free throws with five seconds left to rewrite the semifinal script.
Battle was outstanding for PH, with a game-high 22 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, one block and, for him, a rare assist. Kasey added 16 points including a pair of 3-pointers early in the second half that enabled PH to take the momentum.
``They're a good team and we had our shot at winning,'' Esworthy said. ``But we played hard. Even though we lost, this was the best game we've played this year as a team.''
Morman led Riverside with 18 points, and Mark Green had 13 rebounds to give the Pirates control of the boards 31-29. Riverside showed patience and connected on 26 of 49 from the field, including 7-of-14 3-point shots. PH made 27 of 56.
``Patrick Henry played well. They hit the boards hard and got a lot of loose balls while making tough shots,'' said Parrish, whose team had not played that close a game in this tournament until meeting the Patriots.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM Staff. Dominic English (center) of PH loses hisby CNBbalance and control of the basketball after going for an offensive
rebound with (left to right) Antoine Morman, Colby Leftwich and Mark
Green. color. KEYWORDS: BASKETBALL