THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412090248
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: HERTFORD LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
NOTHING EVER changes in Hertford. When Perquimans County High School has a slow basketball team, hell will freeze over. But will the team ever play with discipline?
That lack of offensive discipline almost cost the Pirates a recent game against Columbia. The Wildcats' one advantage in the contest, their height, actually lost them the game. Columbia's Shimon Skinner was called for goaltending at the buzzer, allowing Perquimans County a 67-66 win.
The last 1:18 of the game were highly entertaining as both teams traded 3-pointers and free throws. The Pirates (2-1), who avenged a loss to the Wildcats last week, trailed 64-59, but with 1:18 to play, Lyron Welch connected on a 3-point shot to cut the Wildcat lead to 64- 62.
Maurice Shannonhouse was called for a reach-in foul when he attempted a steal on Columbia's Matt Maye with 1:11 to play. But Maye missed the front end of the 1-and-1. Jermaine Coston followed down the other end of the court with a 3-pointer to give the Pirates a 65-64 lead with 1:01 to play. Some sloppy play followed.
On the Wildcats' next possession, the refs whistled Skinner on a traveling call with 38 seconds to play. He was then called for a reach-in foul on the Perquimans' inbounds. But Tykinston Wood missed the front end of a 1-and-1.
On the other end, Maye was hammered by the Pirates' Kelsy Moore. He hit one of two free throws to tie the game at 65-65 with 23 seconds to play.
On the Pirates' next possession, Coston threw the ball away under pressure with 12 seconds to play, giving the Wildcats the opportunity to win the game. A blocking foul was called on Odell White with 9.9 seconds to play. Maye sunk one of two free throws to give the Wildcats a 66-65 lead.
Perquimans quickly moved the ball downcourt in a wild frenzy. Wood took a jumper at the buzzer which tipped off the basket, but Skinner touched the rim on the shot. After conferring, the referees said the basket counted and the Pirates were victorious.
``That's the strangest thing I've ever seen in my life,'' said Perquimans head coach Luther Overton, who admitted his team's undisciplined offense nearly cost them the contest.
``Everybody wants to be a playmaker but we need to make a lot better decisions,'' Overton said. ``I expect that early in the season. At least I know what we have to work on.''
But Overton also admitted that because of his team's height disadvantage, they need to push the ball upcourt quickly. Many times the maniacal pace catches the opposing defense off guard, and that's where the 3-point shot comes in.
``One of the things we are counting on is that offense,'' Overton said. ``We plan to run it all season. Our intention is to wear those big guys down. We don't have the height I'd like to have so we play aggressive. But I'd rather play that way.''
It just wouldn't be a Perquimans basketball team if he didn't. by CNB