THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412220168
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
IT WILL BE HARD for the Manteo Redskins boys basketball team to repeat last year's 20-win season which included a regular season Northeastern Conference title and a 2A playoff spot. But if the way Manteo manhandled Gates County last week is any indication of things to come, head coach Bud Hendrix could be flashing his trademark smile a lot again this season.
It was Manteo's defense that spurred on its high-powered transition offense. The Redskins had the Barons scrambling as they jumped out to an 18-2 first quarter lead enroute to a 79-33 thrashing.
The Barons could not get untracked right from the start as Manteo jumped out to a 10-0 lead with 3:40 to play in the first quarter when L.C. Thrash came up with a steal and fed Antonio Spencer for a short jumper.
Wayne Hathaway broke the Gates silence with a bucket with 3:14 to play in the quarter, but Manteo (4-2) scored the next eight points of the quarter to keep the game out of reach.
Manteo's defense, particularly Thrash, stopped Gates' playmaker Jason McAllister by forcing him to the outside. The Manteo guards picked off several passes and Gates was prone to throwing the ball out of bounds and hitting each other in the back with attempted passes during the first half.
Gates played better in the third quarter against Manteo's second string and actually outscored the Redskins 12-8 in the period. But Manteo used its transition offense to outscore the Barons 27-8 in the final period. The run was characterized by crisp passing and sharp 3-point shooting.
``We had a real nice passing night,'' said Manteo head coach Hendrix. ``This is a very young team. If we come together and play like we did tonight, we'll challenge in the Northeastern Conference.''
Hendrix said the win was satisfying after a rough week when the Redskins lost to Atlantic Shores (Virginia) and Northside on back-to-back nights.
``Yesterday (Thursday) we took the day off. After a good day's rest we had our shooting touch tonight,'' he added. The Redskins shot just 31 percent from the floor against Atlantic Shores and a paltry 28 percent against Northside.
The Redskins will face some tough competition before starting the Northeastern Conference schedule on Jan. 20 at home against Plymouth. Manteo faces 4A Northeastern at home on Jan. 6 then travels to play Northside again, this time on the road on Jan. 10. Manteo's final test before the conference will be a road game against Northeastern on Jan. 13. One of the Redskins' biggest highlights last year was knocking off Northeastern in Manteo.
``I would say that Plymouth, Southeast Halifax and Manteo are the probable favorites in the conference,'' Hendrix said.
Manteo's next game will be against Greenbrier Christian in the Oscar Smith Tournament (Va.) on Wednesday. by CNB