ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997 TAG: 9703030126
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WOODBRIDGE
SOURCE: SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
BUT THE COLONELS still have a date with Hayfield in the Group AAA boys' basketball tournament.
Blinding team speed and intense full-court defense have been Potomac boys' basketball trademarks all season, the Panthers used height to gain an advantage over William Fleming on Saturday night.
Sablan Toussaint, a 6-foot-6 reserve forward who had just returned to action after a Jan.14 injury, entered the game after the Colonels had built a four-point lead in the first quarter. The bigger lineup turned the tide as Potomac defeated William Fleming 67-57 before an overflow crowd to win the Northwest Region championship.
Potomac (24-2) will play in a Group AAA quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Saturday at Woodbridge High School against Yorktown, a 60-48 loser to Hayfield. William Fleming (19-6) will face Hayfield at a Northern Region location to be determined.
The Panthers were led by senior forward Shajuan Williams, who scored a game-high 23 points, including 13 in the second quarter. Freshman guard Cliff Hawkins added 16 points for Potomac.
The Colonels were paced by senior forward Charles Burnette's 17 points. Senior forward Jaron Walker came off the bench to score 11 points, nine during William Fleming's frantic attempt at a comeback in the fourth quarter.
``Getting [Toussaint] in gave us a size advantage,'' said Kendall Hayes, Potomac's coach. ``It was the first time for us getting a big group on the floor this season, and he really gave us a big lift by blocking some shots and scoring down low. We haven't shot well from the perimeter for a while.''
After grabbing the lead in the first quarter, Fleming was outscored 19-8 in the second, mostly because of Williams' activity and the Panthers' smothering defense. Down 17-11 with 6:34 left in the second quarter, Potomac went on a 15-2 run, highlighted by Williams' dunks, three Hawkins assists and several forced turnovers.
Colonels coach Roland Lovelace said his team must regroup.
``We've just got to play,'' Lovelace said. ``Win or lose tonight, we've got to be ready'' for the Group AAA tournament.
Colonels guard Brad Dunleavy, who had averaged 16 points per game going into Saturday's final, got into early foul trouble and finished with five points. NOTE: please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 51 linesby CNB