THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502100622
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
The Maury Commodores were nearly given up for dead three weeks ago in the race for the Eastern District regular-season title.
After a 74-73 loss to Booker T. Washington and a 49-47 setback to Granby, both at Maury, the Commodores were 0-2 in the Eastern District while Booker T. and Granby were unbeaten.
But Maury coach Jack Baker contends he never gave up hope.
``We just needed a little help,'' Baker said.
They've gotten that help the last two weeks. First, Booker T. beat Granby. Then Maury beat Booker T. and Granby in back-to-back games. Then Lake Taylor upset Booker T. Tuesday night.
Now, Maury finds itself in a three-way tie with Granby and Booker T., all with 4-2 records.
All Maury must do to assure itself of no less than a one-game playoff for the regular-season title is win its last two regular-season games: tonight vs. Norview and next Friday at Lake Taylor.
A two-team playoff would be played Feb. 18, to determine the district's automatic region berth. Should the race end in a three-way tie, there will no playoff and the teams will draw for seeding in the district tournament.
``We didn't control our own destiny until Tuesday night,'' Baker said. ``But we knew it had been a long time since someone went 8-0 in the Eastern District.''
The last team to go unbeaten in the Eastern was Maury in 1988-89. Those Cornel Parker-led Commodores won the Eastern Region title before falling to Petersburg in the state semifinals.
This year's race is more typical of the district, but can't match the 1990-91 season for competitiveness. That year Maury, Booker T., Granby and Norview all finished with 5-3 records.
GRANBY GAME MOVED: Granby's Eastern District regular-season finale Tuesday night with Booker T. Washington is being moved to Lake Taylor High.
Granby's gymnasium seats about 500 and the game is expected to draw at least three times that number. Lake Taylor seats approximately 1,500.
``We weighed the situation of giving up our home-court advantage,'' Granby athletic director Marty Bechtol said. ``And depending on what happens Friday night, this could be for the district title.
``Lake Taylor was our best option because we weren't going to Booker T. to play our home game.''
The Comets, who visit Lake Taylor tonight, could become very familiar with Lake Taylor's gym in the next few weeks.
Granby, Maury and Booker T. are tied for the Eastern District lead at 4-2.
If there is a playoff game for the regular-season title, it would be at Lake Taylor. If Granby wins the regular-season title, the Comets would earn the right to host the district tournament's championship game.
But due to gymnasium size, neither Granby nor Norview can host a district title game. That could also be moved to Lake Taylor.
DAY GAMES IN RICHMOND: After a drive-up shooting following a George Wythe-John Marshall basketball game last Thursday night, Richmond's school system has adopted a day-game policy for athletic events.
Two teens were wounded in the shooting, one shot in the head and the other in the back, after they had gotten into an argument with a group of youths at the game.
The day-game policy will apply to home games of all Richmond public schools. Seven schools play in four different districts in the Greater Richmond area.
The decision has received mixed reviews, and Highland Springs coach George Lancaster said he believes it will foster a negative perception and scare fans away.
``I also think each and every parent will fear for their child,'' said Lancaster, quoted in The Richmond Times-Dispatch. ``It makes you think twice. remorseful. It takes away from the spirit of competition and rivalry. It's gone into an area of selfishness.''
Frank Threatts, John Marshall's boys basketball coach called the move ``another example of how the inmates are running the asylum. They're going to run the asylum, the city, the school system and everything else.''
THE ALL-SHAWN TEAM: It's a good year to be named Shawn, or Shaun or Lashawn in South Hampton Roads. So here's the All-Shawn team.
At guard are 5-8 Bayside point guard Shawn Blassingill (6.4 points per game, 8 assists) and 6-5 Granby shooting guard Shawn Hobson (21.7 ppg, 7 rebounds).
The forwards are Bayside's 6-4 Lashawn Jones (16.4 ppg, 10 rpg) and Booker T. Washington's 6-4 Shawn Wilson (21.1 ppg, 8 rpg). The center is Maury's 6-7 Shaun Jackson (14.6 ppg, 15 rpg).
THIS AND THAT: No. 6 Indian River visits No. 5 Booker T. Washington Saturday night in an attractive nondistrict game. . . . Bayside can wrap up the Beach District regular-season title and an automatic Eastern Region berth with a victory tonight at home over Ocean Lakes. The Marlins are 15-0 in the Beach. The last team to go unbeaten in Beach District regular-season play? Bayside did it in 1989-90 and 1990-91. Both years the Marlins won state titles. . . . Churchland can wrap up the Southeastern District title with a win tonight against visiting Great Bridge. by CNB