THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412300604
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
It's been 10 years since Lake Taylor posted a winning record. But you'd never know it from watching this year's team.
The Titans have won five straight and finished December with a 6-1 record. Their success has earned a No. 9 nod in the area Top 10.
``We've come a long way,'' said first-year head coach John Kelly. ``And we'll find out how much further we have to go in the next three games.''
The Titans host Deep Creek (Wednesday, Jan. 4), visit seventh-ranked Tallwood (Saturday, Jan. 7) and then travel to third-ranked Booker T. Washington (Friday, Jan. 13) to start the new year.
Kelly, formerly an Old Dominion University assistant coach under Tom Young, is quick to give credit to Jarrell Wilkerson, who left the program after two years to take an assistant coaching job at Hampton University.
The Titans were 10-12 last season, but four of those losses were by a total of 10 points.
``Jarrell set the program in a good position,'' Kelly said. ``He put the kids in a position to succeed. He certainly taught the kids how to play defense and that made the transition easy for me.''
Kelly believes the Titans' major strength is their unpredictability.
While sophomore guard Toot Young (15.1 points per game) and senior guard Reggie Hawkins (10.7) lead Lake Taylor in scoring, Kelly is quick to point out ``we've had eight different players score in double figures so far. This team prides itself on its unselfishness.''
GETTING TO THE POINT: Cox (5-3) struggled in the first three weeks of the season as it searched for a way to replace All-Beach District guard Robbie Morgan.
Many combinations were tried, but finally coach Kenny Edwards came to the realization that he was attempting to fit square pegs into round holes: Every player he tried at point guard was a more natural shooting guard.
So after losing to Boys and Girls of New York, 54-45, in the opening round of the Catholic Holiday Invitational, Edwards finally made the move he'd hinted he might have to make. He threw sophomore Carl Lentz into the starting lineup.
Lentz responded with 14 points and 13 points while successfully running an offense that finally clicked in big victories over Norfolk Academy and Andrew Jackson of Cambria Heights, N.Y.
The 5-foot-11, 135-pounder also showed a propensity to shoot the 3-pointer, making 3 of 8 attempts.
The morning of Cox's 63-33 victory over Norfolk Academy, Lentz walked into Cox's gym for a morning walkthrough carrying an Egg McMuffin and a Coke. Edwards had an assistant coach give Lentz the word he'd start that day.
``If any good comes out of Ben Green's injury, it's getting Lentz into the lineup. He's a very confident kid, but I was a little hesitant putting him in there because we run a very complicated offense. To his credit, we haven't had to simplify on his behalf.''
Green, a 6-6 junior forward, is out 2-to-4 weeks with a broken bone in his shooting wrist. His absence has also meant more minutes for 6-5 junior Jason Donahoe, who responded by averaging nine points a game in the tournament.
POWELL POWER: As well as Arnie Powell did in quarterbacking Deep Creek to a 13-1 record, it should come as little surprise that the 6-4 sophomore is producing on the basketball court this winter.
In his only two games - the extended football season meant a late start for Deep Creek's multiple-sport players - Powell has averaged 14.5 points and 13 rebounds in victories over Wilson, 68-65, and Norcom, 60-58.
``He had a good summer, so his play hasn't surprised me,'' Deep Creek coach Benny Polk said. ``His scoring, though, has been a surprise.''
Because of his size and football exploits, Powell will be viewed as a legitimate college prospect as a quarterback. Polk says the only way he could see Powell's basketball value matching his football worth as a recruit would be if he grew a few more inches.
``He's at that in-between size for basketball,'' Polk said. ``He's playing the post this year for us. Maybe we'll be able to move him to small forward next year and see what happens.''
Deep Creek (4-2) plays its most important game of the young season Tuesday when the Hornets visit sixth-ranked Indian River (3-2). Both teams are 2-0 in the Southeastern District.
Powell is one of six sophomores on Deep Creek's varsity roster, and three of them start. Sophomores joining Powell in the starting lineup are point guard Chad Sorrell and small forward Javon Artis, which has Polk smiling. by CNB