THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 15, 1995 TAG: 9502150591
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
The Granby Comets assured themselves a share of the Eastern District regular-season title with a 59-47 victory over Booker T. Washington Tuesday night at Lake Taylor High.
The Bookers assured themselves a tough road to the Eastern Region tournament.
Guard/forward Shawn Hobson scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to pace the Comets' attack while forward Toweh Ketter added 15 points.
But it was the tough defense of Granby guards Antoine Upshur and Anthony King that threw Booker T. catalyst Kenny Brown off his game and caused the Bookers continuous headaches. Brown was 2-for-16 from the field and committed eight turnovers.
``We felt we were deeper than they are, so we wanted to run a four-guard rotation in and out and wear him down,'' Granby coach Tim Sweeney said. ``Anthony likes to go for steals. But we told him to play Kenny straight up tonight. We felt with his quickness and his physique that he could body up with Kenny.''
With Brown out of sync, the rest of the Bookers wallowed as well. Shawn Wilson, who entered averaging more than 20 points per game, finished with three. The Bookers shot 26.9 percent (18 of 67) from the field. Dewayne Jacobs finished with 18 points to lead the Bookers, while David Gallop added 10.
The Comets led 28-13 at the half and routinely capitalized on breakaway layups.
``That was by design,'' Hobson said. ``Their team likes to pressure in the back court and we let someone release downcourt all night. The easy transition baskets won the game.''
By the end of the third quarter, the Comets led, 39-19. It took a 28-point fourth quarter by Booker T. to make the final score respectable.
Brown's only 3-pointer of the evening came with 4:38 remaining and cut Granby's lead to 41-32. But that was as close as the Bookers could get.
``In the fourth quarter we relaxed and they made a little run,'' Hobson said. ``But it was expected and we responded.''
The Comets, South Hampton Roads' fourth-ranked team, improved to 17-2 and finished the Eastern District regular season 6-2. They hold a half-game lead over Maury, which ends its regular season Friday at Lake Taylor. Granby, meanwhile, plays at Indian River Friday in a non-district game.
If Maury beats Lake Taylor, Granby and Maury will meet Saturday night at Lake Taylor to decide the Eastern District's No. 1 regional berth.
The sixth-ranked Bookers (13-6, 4-3) haven't missed a regional tournament since 1982 and their 12 consecutive appearances is the region's longest streak. But the only way they will make it this year is with a strong Eastern District tournament showing. And they must win Friday at Norview to keep from entering the district tournament on a five-game losing streak.
``We're like a frog in milk,'' Booker T. coach Barry Hamler said. ``We can either drown or we can flap and flap and flap and flap until it turns to buttermilk and we can crawl off it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/Staff
Booker T. Washington's Brian Parker, left, and Granby's Toweh Ketter
soar for a rebound that bounces beyond their grasp.
by CNB