THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 4, 1995 TAG: 9501040543
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
They are young, inexperienced and certainly not the best team in the Bay Rivers District, but don't tell the Lakeland Cavaliers that.
When the going gets tough the Cavaliers come together as they did Tuesday night with a 75-66 district triumph over visiting Southampton.
``They play really well together,'' Lakeland coach John Fuller said. ``I think that helps us overcome some of the youth and helps when we play teams that are better than us but might not play well together.''
Sebastian Yates, recovering from pneumonia, led the Cavaliers (5-3 overall, 2-0 Bay Rivers) with 23 points as all but one of Lakeland's players who played scored.
After Lakeland opened up a 19-14 lead, the Indians (1-6, 0-1) went on a 10-2 run for a 24-21 edge midway through the second quarter.
The Cavaliers couldn't penetrate the Indians' defense and when Rodney Darden's slam attempt bounced high off the rim and then back through the net, it seemed that everything was bouncing Southampton's way.
But Amon Cross nailed a three- pointer and a layup in the final minute of the first half to send Lakeland into the locker room with a 30-29 lead.
The Cavaliers outscored the Indians 20-11 in the third quarter, and you can credit James Pruden with the game-winner at the end of that period.
With time running out, the Indians were already headed to the bench as Pruden grabbed a rebound and headed to midcourt to unleash a buzzer beater.
When the crowd erupted, Southampton's players and coaches stared in a disbelief and an ``Oh No'' was heard from the bench as the Cavaliers' lead had increased to 10, 50-40.
From there it was all Lakeland.
The Indians started making too many mistakes, the biggest being sending Yates to the line six times, where he went 11 of 12.
Yates, who contracted pneumonia just before Christmas and saw limited playing time in the Lakeland Christmas tournament last week, said he is feeling better and bumped his season average back up to 20 points. ``He's feeling a little better,'' Fuller said. ``He still gets very tired.''
Pruden and Antoine Riddick added 13 points apiece for the Cavaliers.
Darden paced the Indians with 13 points and Peter Moses added 10. Shawn Tann, who averages 19.5 points was held to nine.
NANSEMOND RIVER 50, YORK 43
Antoine Willie, held to one point in the first half, scored 23 of Nansemond River's last 28 points.
The Warriors outscored York, 15-9, in the third quarter to break a 22-22 tie. Pernell Tucker led York with 12. by CNB