THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 15, 1995 TAG: 9501130257
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 29 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
There are just eight weeks until March Madness begins in Virginia.
The high school version.
And Franklin coach James Jones wants his Broncos to be running on all cylinders when the time comes.
``Our goal has got to be getting into the post season,'' Jones said. ``More important than how we come out in the district is that we are playing in March.''
As Jones is very well aware ``there are no weak teams in this district.'' Going into last Friday's matchup with Bay Rivers District leading Nansemond River, the Broncos were locked in a four-way tie for third at 2-2, 6-3 overall.
``We have got a lot of room to grow,'' Jones said. ``We will take each week and each day as an improvement process.''
Jones lost nine seniors, including all his starters from last season.
``When you get in late game situations and you look at the bench, everybody there was JV last year or not on the team.''
But that's not to say the Broncos are without leaders.
Junior guard Sydney Gainey led the district in scoring the first couple of weeks and averages 18.8 points per game.
``The biggest misconception is that he is just a shooter,'' Jones said. ``Sydney offers a total package. He handles the ball under pressure and makes good decisions.''
Early in the season, Gainey felt pressure to constantly shoot the ball.
``He felt the ball had to be in his hands for us to win,'' Jones said. ``He is a great defensive player, too. I have had a lot of good guards in my tenure here and he fits in with those and he has the potential to be as good or better.''
``I have a big part in this team,'' Gainey said. ``When I get the ball, I feel like I have to make it.''
But Lakeland and Smithfield gave the Broncos just what they needed to start spreading the wealth.
``They ran a box-and-one on us and that gave us the opportunity to get more players in double figures.''
Three Franklin players hit double figures in the win over Lakeland, and four players reached doubles in the win over Smithfield. When that happens the Broncos are hard to stop.
``When we are successful is when (Josh) Freeman can get us the boards. He is basically the key to our consistency,'' Jones said.
Freeman, a 6-7 senior, is averaging nearly 15 rebounds per game.
``We need to finally get to a higher intensity level,'' Freeman said.
What will it take to get there?
``Self-discipline,'' Freeman said.
And mistake-free basketball.
Against Lakeland, ``we came out strong and played our game. If they scored, we scored,'' Gainey said. ``But we started making mistakes toward the end of the second half and they started to come back.
``We've got to stop the mistakes and really pound the ball in down low early in the game. If everybody plays together, we'll be all right.''
Unifying this team is where Jones sees the most room for growth.
Mixed in with Gainey's experience, Freeman; Linwood Joyner, who is ninth in the district in scoring; and Wade Williams, who got to learn from the best last season with Western Tidewater player of the year Ben Richie leading the way, are a handful of very young, very green players.
``Some of the young guys might get a little nervous and freak a little bit, but for us it isn't a lot different from last year,'' Gainey said. ``Except we are running it this year.''
Gainey, who is averaging 8.2 assists and hitting 93 percent from the foul line, was Richie's backup last year and when Richie wasn't on the floor, Gainey's job was to act like a true point guard and guide the offense.
``Last year, I was just the set-up shooter,'' Gainey said. ``We are young this year, and it takes time to get everybody together on the floor.'' by CNB