THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 3, 1994 TAG: 9408030585
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Say this for the first meeting between Odell Hodge and Joe Smith: They didn't exactly shut each other down.
Hodge scored 33 points and Smith 25 in a Hampton Roads Pro-Am playoff game Tuesday night - and that was in the first half. Hodge finished with 50 and Smith 43. Hodge added 12 rebounds, while Smith had eight boards and five blocked shots.
``It was a good matchup,'' Smith said. ``He's a pretty good player.''
``We played in AAU,'' Hodge said. ``But nothing like this.''
Hodge and Smith have never - and may never - meet on a college court, so a crowd of about 500 turned out to watch them trade post moves at Lake Taylor High.
They weren't disappointed. The 6-foot-9 Hodge, the Colonial Athletic Association player of the year from Old Dominion, rang up the highest point total of the summer. He did it at the end of a day that started with a 6 a.m. practice at ODU. The Monarchs practiced again at 4:30 in preparation for a trip to France.
Hodge shook off suggestions that he must be tired.
``I'm in good shape,'' he said. ``I'm used to it.''
Smith, a Maury High graduate who was the national freshman of the year at Maryland last season, had what for him was an average Pro-Am night. He came in averaging close to 40 points a game.
A few of the highlights:
Early third quarter. Hodge posts up on the right block and scores on a power move. Smith answers immediately with a quick spin move and reverse layup.
Late third quarter. Hodge posts up on the right block. Smith blocks his shot. There's a scrum on the floor. Hodge wrestles the ball from Smith and lays it in.
Early fourth quarter. Smith catches a baseball pass, spins and lays it in lefthanded over Hodge.
In the end, Hodge had more help. And his team, the Rockets, pulled away to knock off Smith's Hornets, 144-132. ``I'm real happy with my performance and real happy with my team,'' Hodge said.
Smith wasn't as pleased, particularly late in the game, when on several occasions his calls for the ball went unanswered.
Smith may live to play another day, though. Pro-Am executive director Wayne Hoffler said he may place Smith on another team.
In the second game, former Hampton star Greg Ford's 37 points led Team Asics over the Commodores, 150-137. Norfolk State's Carnell Penn scored 40 for the Commodores. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Odell Hodge and Joe Smith combined for 93 points in a Hampton Roads
Pro-Am playoff game Tuesday night.
by CNB