THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412110220
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
They were without their starting point guard. They shot horribly from the field and the line. And their big men spent much of the game in foul trouble.
Bayside's 71-54 loss to Martin Luther King Saturday in the Tidewater Basketball Classic was a bloody mess, particularly after backup point guard Mike Kitrel took an elbow to the mouth in the fourth quarter.
``I still say there are losses that are good losses,'' said Bayside coach Ron Jenkins. ``I've had 'em before. We were coming off a big win the other night over Booker T. and we were dragging in practice (Friday). I could see this coming.''
The Marlins, the top-ranked team in South Hampton Roads, led 21-20 after 10 minutes. But when King's Shawn Harden scored on a baby hook shot to take a 22-21 advantage, it was the last time the Marlins would see a lead.
Bayside forward Lashawn Jones and center Marcus Riddick each had two fouls in the first quarter, which reduced their effectiveness.
The Marlins shot 34.5 percent from the field (19 of 55) and 50 percent from the foul line (14 of 28). And with point guard Shawn Blassingill in street clothes on the bench, the Marlins were without their floor leader.
Blassingill sustained a bruised hip Thursday night in the closing minutes of an 87-73 victory over Booker T. Washington when he ended up under a pile under the basket. The Marlins hope to have him back for their key Beach District game at Cox Tuesday night.
``When things get frustrating, you can start forcing things and that's when you disassemble yourself,'' Jenkins said. ``Now we know we can be beaten, and beaten badly.''
By halftime, the Marlins trailed 35-23 and never cut King's lead to single digits.
King, which was 25-2 last year and won the New York City public school championship, evened its record at 1-1 behind 21 points by guard Kevin Morris.
Reserve forward James Carter led Bayside with 14 points and was the only Marlin in double figures.
With or without Blassingill Tuesday, the Marlins (2-1) will unveil a new face for its Beach District foe. Thomas Bennett, a 6-foot-7, 245-pound senior transfer from Houston, was cleared to play by the Virginia High School League Friday and suited up Saturday.
Bennett had two points, blocked three blocked shots and missed three free throws in an eventful four minutes of action.
Jenkins is still unsure how he will use Bennett.
``I didn't want to distract the team (while the VHSL decided on Bennett's eligibility),'' Jenkins said. ``So we worked on finding out what we had (without Bennett). Over the next couple of days we'll take a look at how we might want to use him.'' by CNB