THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502030639
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
Catholic High's boys basketball team, which was 2-7 at the end of December, has rebounded in 1995 to win nine of 10 and is in first place in the Tidewater Conference at 6-0 heading into tonight's game with Norfolk Academy.
What's caused the resurgence?
For starters, coach Dennis Price moved 6-foot-3 senior Jimmy Whitehead from forward to his more natural point-guard position.
``I moved Jimmy inside to start the season, hoping he could use his height down low to help us,'' Price said. ``It just made him less of a factor.''
Secondly, Price gave his team five days off after they lost to Academy in the seventh-place game of the Catholic Holiday Invitational, 51-45.
``We needed some time to think about what we had to do as a team,'' Price said. ``Since then, we've gone as far as attitude and defense will take us.''
The Crusaders' only loss since then came at Paul VI, 49-47, on a last-second tip-in.
Whitehead, who averages 12.5 points, and senior guard Andrew Prickett, who averages 10 points a game, are leading the Crusaders (11-8) in scoring. But Price says different people have had big games when needed.
Bert Holmes scored 17 in a 58-54 victory at Walsingham, and Chris Williams scored all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter of a 64-53 win over Norfolk Collegiate.
The most amazing victory during the stretch came when the Crusaders overcame an 18-point deficit to beat Benedictine of Richmond, 46-43, in double overtime.
``In the hallways, we're getting a lot of, `We thought you guys were dead,' '' Price said. ``There's some renewed interest among the student body now. But everyone's still waiting to see what we do against Academy.''
COOL-HAND KENNY: The Atlantic Shores Seahawks, who aspire to win the state's private-school title, have learned what it's like to play against what is arguably the most competitive public-school district in the state, going 1-4 against the Eastern District this season.
They've also learned that 6-foot-7 1/2, 195-pound junior center Kenny Inge can play against anybody in the Eastern District.
Inge averaged 19.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and four blocks in those five games, highlighted by a 20-point, 22-rebound effort against Booker T. Washington.
For the season, Inge is averaging 16.1 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for the 18-6 Seahawks, who visit Rock Academy tonight.
``He's very athletic, and he runs the floor well,'' Maury coach Jack Baker said after Inge had 18 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots against the Commodores. ``I don't think he's an ACC player right now. He's got to work on his jump shot. But I think he can play at the Division I level.''
Atlantic Shores coach Mark Phelps reports that a slew of Division I schools in the Colonial and Big South conferences are asking about Inge. But Phelps isn't about to exclude the ACC.
``He can do a lot of things,'' Phelps said. ``We're not afraid to give the ball to Kenny 30 feet from the basket on the break. And I can see him getting to about 6-9 or 6-10 before he stops growing.''
WARMING UP: With Deep Creek's football season lasting into December, Hornets coach Benny Polk knew it would take a while for the basketball team to reach its potential.
Plus, there were three sophomores and a senior transfer in the starting lineup.
With victories over Southeastern District powers Churchland and Indian River in the last three weeks, it appears the 9-7 Hornets have rounded into form while making themselves a team to watch in the upcoming postseason.
``We've got three or four guys who are averaging double figures in the last couple games and they've been key,'' Polk said. ``Our kids now know that if they show up mentally prepared, we can play with people and beat some people. The secret was learning what each kid could do and defining some roles.''
Beginning with an 88-87 overtime win over Churchland and closing with a 72-59 victory over Indian River, the Hornets have gone 4-1 in their last five games, the only loss an 87-79 nondistrict setback to Booker T. Washington.
Senior forward Shelton Davis has averaged 19.6 points in the last five games while senior guard Mike Harrington has scored at a 16.4 clip. Sophomore guard Javon Artis has added 15.2 per game and sophomore forward Arnie Powell has averaged 13.6.
PENINSULA UPDATE: The Peninsula District representatives must face the Eastern District's representatives in the opening round of this season's Eastern Region tournament. But who will be playing is open to conjecture.
The Peninsula race is about as tight as it can get, with three teams having three district losses.
Menchville (12-5 overall, 11-3 district), Warwick (13-3, 10-3) and Kecoughtan (12-4, 10-3) are at the top, with Hampton (13-4, 10-4) nipping at their heels.
Warwick visits Hampton tonight in a game that could go far in clearing the overall picture.
The hot team is Kecoughtan, which has won eight straight. The Warriors are led by 6-6 Loyola-Baltimore signee Nsilo Abraham and 6-3 shooting guard Brett Harper, who leads the Peninsula in scoring with 20.7 points per game.
BIG GAMES ON TAP: No. 6 Maury visits No. 3 Booker T. Washington in tonight's big Eastern District game. . . .
On Tuesday, No. 5 Churchland visits No. 2 Indian River in a battle of the Southeastern District's top two teams, while Maury takes on No. 4 Granby in the Eastern and No. 8 Nansemond River travels to Lakeland for a Suffolk showdown of the Bay Rivers District's top two teams. by CNB