THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 2, 1994 TAG: 9412020706
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 133 lines
This could be the best three-team race the Beach District has ever seen. Bayside, Cox and Green Run all have the talent and size to go far in the region and possibly the state tournaments.
But only two teams can advance beyond district play.
1993-94 champion: Cox.
Predicted order of finish: 1. Bayside. 2. Cox. 3. Green Run. 4. Tallwood. 5. Kempsville. 6. Ocean Lakes. 7. Princess Anne. 8. Salem. 9. First Colonial. 10. Kellam.
BAYSIDE
Coach: Ron Jenkins.
Last season: 14-9 overall, 11-5 district (tied for 3rd)
Impact players: Marcus Riddick, 6-8 senior center; LaShawn Jones, 6-3 senior guard-forward; Shawn Blassengill, 5-6 senior point guard
Newcomers to watch: Thomas Bennett, 6-7 senior forward
Outlook: The Marlins had a quality cast returning when the 245-pound Bennett transferred in from Houston to add depth. Jones is the slashing scorer and a quality rebounder. Riddick had a banner summer that improved his recruiting stock considerably. Eric Carballo, Kevin Yearwood and David Miller should all see time in the backcourt.
COX
Coach: Kenny Edwards.
Last season: 20-4 overall, 14-2 district (1st)
Impact players: Matt Whalen, 6-5 senior forward; Xavier Wilson, 6-1 senior guard; Ben Green, 6-6 junior forward
Newcomers to watch: Jamie Irvine, 6-3, freshman forward; Chris McInnis, 5-10 junior guard; Latane Meade, 6-5 sophomore forward
Outlook: The Falcons were the surprise team of the area last season and Whalen is back after averaging 18.6 points and 12.5 rebounds. Matt Wilbricht, a 6-2 senior, is being asked to replace all-district guard Robert Morgan, but he'll have plenty of backcourt help from Xavier Wilson, who Edwards believes is the district's best guard.
GREEN RUN
Coach: Mark Butts.
Last season: 17-7 overall, 12-4 district (2nd)
Impact players: Will Brooks, 6-4 junior forward; Plaxico Burress, 6-5, junior forward; Bobby Glos, 6-3 junior guard
Newcomers to watch: Corey Jones, 6-5 junior forward, and Aaron Huseman, 6-6 senior center
Outlook: The Stallions have the horses to be great. The key could be finding a jockey. Butts, in his first-year as head coach, is looking at junior Rod Cooper and senior Eddie McInnis at point guard as he works to fill the void left by Ashley Berry's transfer to Booker T. Washington. Transfer Lanier Washington could be a pleasant surprise.
TALLWOOD
Coach: Johnny Pope.
Last season: 6-15 overall, 5-11 district (7th)
Impact players: Rian Everett, 6-0 junior guard; Jake Lovelace, 6-5 senior center
Newcomers to watch: Mack Hall, 6-6 junior center; Ebonais Davis, 6-4 junior forward
Outlook: The Lions will continue to shoot the 3-pointer, but could show more discretion this season now that they have interior size. Davis weighs 244 pounds and 6-4 players Neil Roberts and Marche Gorum provide inside height. Guards Phillip Clay and Chris Lawler lend depth. This team could sneak up on the Beach's Big Three.
KEMPSVILLE
Coach: Vernon King.
Last season: 6-16 overall, 4-12 district (8th)
Impact players: Tyren Johnson, 6-7 senior forward
Newcomers to watch: Brian Bersticker, 6-9 sophomore center; McKinley Ford, 6-5 sophomore forward; Rayshawn Mitchell, 6-1 sophomore guard
Outlook: If everything falls into place, this youthful Kempsville squad will be able to go big - a 6-9, 6-7, 6-5 starting front line - or small with equal success. Mitchell has battled with junior Lex Sheriff at point guard. Senior 6-2 guard John Newton and junior 6-4 forward Tom Dettloff return with experience.
OCEAN LAKES
Coach: Mike Head.
Program's first season
Impact players: Kinte Smith, 6-2 senior guard-forward; Robert Elam, 6-1 guard-forward
Newcomers to watch: Walter Amos, 6-2 freshman forward; Jack Wheeler, 6-4 junior forward
Outlook: Head has made a habit of taking over programs (Cox and Green Run) and turning them into Eastern Region playoff teams. Head-coached teams often start slow and finish fast. Smith and Elam, transfers from First Colonial and Kellam, give the Dolphins some proven firepower.
PRINCESS ANNE
Coach: Bob Flegal.
Last season: 12-10 overall, 9-7 district (5th)
Impact players: Ray Gatlin, 6-2 senior forward
Newcomers to watch: Tracey Corprew, 6-2 sophomore guard/forward; Iben Hassan, 6-0 senior guard
Outlook: The Cavaliers aren't big. But when 6-7, 230-pound Mike Kanary is on the court, they aren't small. Kanary needs to come into his own for Princess Anne to challenge the leaders. Mike Wilson lends backcourt quickness. The Cavaliers will go 10 deep. Corprew has looked good in preseason.
SALEM
Coach: Bill Cochrane.
Last season: 14-8 overall, 11-5 district (tied for 3rd)
Impact players: Anthony Williams, 6-2 senior forward; Corey Irvin, 6-0 senior guard
Newcomers to watch: Janus Merchant, 5-7 senior guard; Matt Moeller, 6-5 junior center
Outlook: The Sun Devils will play more players in a larger rotation. Bernard Johnson, a 6-0 senior swing man, is coming off knee surgery. Juniors Richard Holland, Javon Stafford and Arthur Taylor and senior Samuel Skeeter should all see some playing time.
FIRST COLONIAL
Coach: Chris Lowery.
Last season: 7-14 overall, 6-10 district (6th)
Impact players: Doug Taylor, 5-11 sophomore guard; Lamont Moore, 6-1 senior forward
Newcomers to watch: Eric Woodhouse, 5-7 sophomore guard; Jim Naylor, 6-3 sophomore forward
Outlook: Lowery came into a tough situation, replacing Leo Anthony on the day practice began. Lacking size, the Patriots hope to pressure defensively and run when possible. Ross Winfield, a 6-0 senior guard, and Bill Kennedy, a 6-4 junior forward, could also be factors.
KELLAM
Coach: Ricky Hailey.
Last season: 1-18 overall, 0-16 district (9th)
Impact players: Greshaun Fulgham, 6-0 senior guard; Aric Stewart, 5-10 senior guard
Newcomers to watch: Ben Matthews, 6-5 junior forward; Jeremy Kent, 6-5 junior center
Outlook: Beyond Matthews and Kent, the Knights are small and will have to pick up the pace to overcome the lack of height. But this is Hailey's third year. This year's squad is pretty much the same junior varsity team Kellam had two years ago. The Knights hope to approach the .500 mark. by CNB