THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 4, 1995 TAG: 9501040542
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Indian River boys basketball coach Freddie Spellman knows his coaching style - a pressing attack, substituting often to wear down opponents - might be a hard adjustment for some of his players.
``I can't keep 'em all happy (with playing time),'' Spellman laughed. ``So I don't even try.''
It's the opposition, though, that's most unhappy. And the Braves are realizing this approach can work.
It worked to perfection Tuesday as Indian River beat Deep Creek, 78-63, in a key early-season Southeastern District matchup at Indian River High.
The Braves, 4-2 overall, 3-0 in the Southeastern and ranked sixth in South Hampton Roads, used a fullcourt press to force 11 Hornets turnovers in the first quarter while building a 22-11 lead.
``Their press wore us down,'' Deep Creek coach Benny Polk said. ``They run a lot of people at you and keep the pressure on. That's a big, strong, nice team that's going to be tough to beat.''
Spellman was pleased with the defensive effort, but said it still needs some fine-tuning.
``We're aggressive and working hard,'' Spellman said. ``But sometimes we work so hard that we commit fouls we shouldn't or teams beat the press because we're overly aggressive. But we're getting there.''
Seven Braves scored six or more points, led by Morgan Jackson's 16 points off the bench. And as Jackson said afterward, it's a good position to be this team's sixth man. He knows he'll be in the game quickly.
``None of us are really used to it yet,'' Jackson said. ``We just do it and we're learning that as long as we all do our job things work out.''
Freshman forward Jason Capel, son of Old Dominion University coach Jeff Capel, was the only other Indian River player in double figures, scoring 11 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
``We're just a deep team,'' said starting center Jamal Creecy. ``We can go 15 deep if we need to. We're just trying to find the right combinations right now. We've all realized this is the way it's going to be, at least until late January or February when coach Spellman decides on some lineups.''
Mike Harrington had 18 points and Javon Artis 15 points for the Hornets (4-3, 2-1).
Elsewhere in the Southeastern:
WILSON 76, GREAT BRIDGE 72 Darrius Edwards scored 14 of his 24 points in the second half to lead Wilson to its first victory in eight games.
Perez Bottoms and Edwards each sank two free throws in the closing seconds.
The Wildcats' Torey Jordan and Monty Gorum sat until the fourth quarter for missing the team bus.
CHURCHLAND 70, O. SMITH 59 Mike Holland and Dion Langley each scored six points during a 22-9 third-quarter run that pushed the fifth-ranked Truckers in front by 16.
Jason Lewis, D.J. Dunbar and Holland each scored 13 points for Churchland, which remained tied for first in the Southeastern with Indian River.
Oscar Smith got a 30-point performance from William Bonner.
NORCOM 76, W. BRANCH 67 Norcom built a 44-35 halftime lead behind 22 points from Eric Pope and Torrence Oxendine and never let the Bruins get closer than four.
Western Branch was led by Dre Bly, who scored 22 points. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/Staff
Indian River's Jason Capel, right, contests a shot by Deep Creek's
Antonio Langham in the Southeastern District game Tuesday.
by CNB