ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 14, 1997 TAG: 9703140032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM THE ROANOKE TIMES
Former Pulaski County assistants Mark Hanks and Greg Ervin meet in the Group AA tournament for the third straight year.
They used to coach together at Pulaski County when they were learning how to teach the game of basketball.
Now Liberty's Mark Hanks and Gate City's Greg Ervin are two of the most successful Group AA coaches in the state.
Their teams collide for a fourth time in three years at 2:30 p.m. today in a Group AA tournament semifinal at the Vines Center on the Liberty University campus.
Awaiting the winner will be a trip to the state finals. For Liberty, this is nothing new because the Minutemen (26-1) used Gate City (23-4) as a stepping stone on the way to last year's championship. That was part of an ongoing streak of 51 straight victories by the Minutemen against public school competition.
In fact, Hanks' teams have won all three meetings against his buddy's team from far Southwest Virginia. This will be the third straight year they've met in the state tournament, but it will be the first time they have battled in the semifinals.
``We were short a coach [at Pulaski County] and he was at Tech,'' Hanks said about how he first hooked up with Ervin. ``Pat [Burns, head coach at Pulaski County] got in touch with someone who said Greg would make a good coach.''
So Ervin became Hanks' assistant junior varsity coach.
``That first year, I helped both Pat and Mark,'' said Ervin. ``I ran around like a chicken with its head cut off. I learned all I could. The next year, I took over the freshman [team].''
Ervin stayed six years until he became the head coach at Gate City, his home school.
In his first meeting with Liberty two years ago, the Minutemen pulled away using free throws in a resounding 70-53 victory. Last year, the history of high school basketball was nearly altered. Gate City had Liberty in deep trouble before the Minutemen escaped with a 65-61 overtime victory on the way to a 25-0 record and state title.
The two were matched earlier this winter in a tournament at Virginia High School in Bristol with Liberty winning 74-72 in another overtime thriller.
``It's neat to play against a good friend,'' said Hanks. ``Especially in the situations we've played in the last few years. It doesn't take anything away from the competitiveness. If anything, it adds to it.''
This time, Liberty must contain 6-foot-9 Josh Shoemaker, who averages 21 points and 11 rebounds and will be going to Wake Forest. The Minutemen will also have to contend with 6-6 Chad Beasley and 6-4 Jake Housewright.
Liberty doesn't have the height, but the Minutemen's press could be crucial to wiping out the rebounding disadvantage.
Liberty depends on Region III Player of the Year Raymond ``Peanut'' Arrington (19.3 points a game) to head a cast that includes point guard Robert Carson and 6-3 center Rodney Morris.
``They feel they should have beaten us last season, so it will be exciting,'' said Hanks.
``I'm super tickled for Mark and all he's done,'' Ervin said. ``We'd like to beat his tail. You always want to beat whoever you're playing. He's created a little dynasty up there at Liberty.
``If it can't be us [winning the state title], I hope it's him. We pull for each other except when we go on the other side of the court.''
LENGTH: Medium: 69 linesby CNB