THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 29, 1994 TAG: 9412290555
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
Paced by a season-high 18 points from Antoine Hunt, host Oscar Smith won a battle of turnovers and claimed its first win of the season, a 63-58 victory over Norfolk Christian Wednesday in the opening round of the South Norfolk Holiday Classic.
The Tigers, Manteo, Great Bridge and Western Branch advanced to the winner's bracket.
Oscar Smith (1-3) finished with 24 turnovers to the Ambassadors' 25, but coach Sandy Williams doesn't intend to alter his game plan.
``It's obvious that it could have gone either way. We run up and down the court and have a tendency to not take as good care of the ball as we should,'' Williams said. ``But I won't put the reins on them. Eventually that's the way we're going to win.''
A pair of free throws by William Bonner gave the Tigers a 23-22 lead with less than three minutes left in the first half. Oscar Smith led by 5 after layups by Tyrone Williams and Jamar Lewis, but Norfolk Christian scored 10 points in the final 90 seconds to take a 36-31 lead at the half.
The Tigers reclaimed the lead in the third quarter only to lose it again early in the fourth when Sean Hildebrandt sank both halves of a one-and-one for a 51-50 lead.
A turnaround jumper by Moses Johnson gave Oscar Smith the lead for good with 5:55 left.
Johnson's two free throws with 15 seconds left to play made it a four-point game.
Norfolk Christian's Hildebrandt and Matt Morlewski led all scorers with 21 points.
GREAT BRIDGE 77, OCEAN LAKES 68
Great Bridge (3-4) overcame a solid performance by Ocean Lakes' Ernest Harrell and kept the Dolphins winless.
The Wildcats ruled from the 3-point line, as Torey Jordan (4), Tony King (3), Corey Holley (2), and Steve Hargrow (2) all connected from behind the arc.
King hit his first seven shots and finished with a game-high 28 points on 12-for-19 shooting. He nailed a trey to open the game and Great Bridge never trailed.
Jordan finished with 18 points and six rebounds. Harrell grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and led Ocean Lakes (0-6) with 26 points on 9-for-14 shooting from the field and 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. Tobey Johnson added 21 points and sank three 3-pointers for the Dolphins.
WESTERN BRANCH 65, CAPE HENRY 27
Western Branch put on a clinic in stepping into the passing lanes, surging to a 20-8 first-period lead.
Western Branch (2-3) led by as much as 39 points as nine different players scored. Dre Bly led the Bruins with 22 points, 18 in the first half. Darren Walton scored 10 points off the bench.
MANTEO 75, GREENBRIER 54
Antonio Spencer led Manteo's backcourt attack with 18 points, and point guard Darrius Collins added 13. Frankie Cobrora scored 18 for Greenbrier Christian.
The tournament continues at Oscar Smith today with consolation bracket games at 3 and 4:30 p.m. In the semifinals, Oscar Smith faces Manteo at 6 p.m., followed by Great Bridge vs. Western Branch at 7:30. by CNB