THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 1, 1995 TAG: 9412300241
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
THE IDEA BEHIND a tournament is to provide good competition for all the teams involved, but also to be kind to the host.
The Lakeland and Southampton Christmas tournaments were anything but.
Lakeland fell in the semifinals to Greensville, eliminating the chance for the Cavaliers and Nansemond River Warriors to meet for the championship. Southampton lost to Patrick Henry-Ashland.
Lakeland and Nansemond River coaches contend that it doesn't matter that they weren't able to decide the ``city championship'' last week. They still have two scheduled games, with the first one on Jan. 10.
That should give Lakeland's leading scorer Sebastian Yates more time to recover from pneumonia.
Yates, who was averaging 25 points per game before last week, got sick nearly two weeks ago and wasn't with the team when the Eagles pounded the Cavaliers 72-46 at Greensville.
He was dressed last week for the tournament but could only be used sparingly.
``I didn't know how long he could go,'' Lakeland head coach John Fuller said. ``He wasn't feeling well at all.
``I don't think we missed his leadership as much as we missed his scoring.''
With at least 25 points lost without Yates at full strength, the Cavaliers made it even harder on themselves by scoring just two points in the first quarter of the semifinal game which left Fuller shaking his head.
Add to that the fact that Antoine Riddick, who is trying to pick up some of the scoring slack, suffered a slight ankle sprain, and it seems that vacations don't bode well for Lakeland.
Southampton invited some stiff competition to its Christmas tournament and the Indians pitted themselves against Group AAA Patrick Henry-Ashland on the first night.
Daniel Derricote scored 36 points for the Patriots and keyed a second half run to turn back the Indians.
Southampton led 31-22 at the half, but Patrick Henry capitalized on six third-period turnovers to take a 42-41 lead at the end of three.
Derricote then went on a 12-point tear and the Patriots took control of the game.
Shawn Tann was just slightly off his average with 14 points, but the Indians got 15 points off the bench from Andre Jones and freshman center Greg Scott scored 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to further solidify his spot in the Indians lineup.
The Indians shouldn't feel too badly. Their other guest was just as unkind to the locals. Louisa County downed Franklin 53-46 in the other semifinal game. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Nansemond River's Anthony Jones, at right, soars above a Wilson
defender for a rebound in the opening game of the holiday tournament
at Lakeland High.
At left, Nansemond's Leroy Skinner watches intently as he follows
the ball down court.
by CNB