ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701210035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY STAFF WRITER
It wasn't quite the same stakes - or the same scoring margin - but the end result of this year's Northside-Nansemond River basketball game was not much different from their last two encounters.
Advantage, Warriors.
Nansemond River, which defeated Northside in the Group AA championship game in 1992 and 1995, zapped the Vikings this time 64-47 in the opener of the Crestar Roundball Classic on Saturday at the Salem Civic Center.
Nansemond River, 8-4 as a Group AAA team this season, was led Saturday by senior guard Antoine Willie's 23 points. Leroy Skinner and Clarence Lewis contributed 10 points each.
``The thing about Willie is that he's very hard to guard,'' said Northside coach Billy Pope. ``In their half-court offense, he doesn't take anything but difficult shots. We were trying to hold him under 20.''
Willie's season average is more than 27 points per game, and Saturday he shot 10-of-20 from the floor.
The entire Vikings team made just 13 field goals (on 34 attempts), and missed 16 free throws (19-of-35).
``I thought we did a good job of taking it to the basket,'' said Pope, whose team is now 2-10, but drew 24 Warrior fouls. ``It was difficult to finish because of their size.''
The Vikings trailed 16-14 midway through the second quarter, and 28-21 at halftime, but fell behind by 15 points during the third quarter when they missed six 3-point field goal attempts.
Xavier Lee was Northside's leading scorer with 13 points, eight coming in the final period.
``I would have liked to attack their pressure better,'' Pope said. Northside committed 19 turnovers, one more than the Warriors. NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Short : 41 linesby CNB