THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 21, 1995 TAG: 9502210414
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
As Tamara Sivels goes, so goes the Deep Creek girls basketball team.
When Sivels injured her left knee last Tuesday against Churchland, the Hornets saw 17 points a game fall by the wayside.
Deep Creek could have used those points Monday night in the opening round of the Southeastern District tournament, as Indian River ran up and down the court, winning from the free-throw line in a 38-30 upset of the third-seeded Hornets.
Host Great Bridge, seeded second, dispatched of Wilson, 45-32, in the other quarterfinal.
Without their floor leader, Deep Creek's starting five looked disorganized from the tipoff.
``Everyone's used to playing a different position,'' Michelle Boyd said. ``Tamara being out threw us off a lot.''
According to Deep Creek coach Otis Etheridge, Sivels was cleared to play by team doctors but elected to sit out rather than risk further injury.
Deep Creek (16-6), the defending district champions, scored only nine points in the first half, a season low.
The Braves (11-12) started the game with a 6-0 run. Four minutes in, Boyd was whistled for her second foul, forcing the senior to the bench for the rest of the half.
Deep Creek closed the gap to three points midway through the second quarter, but Indian River responded by holding the Hornets scoreless for the next 4:58 to take a 17-9 lead at the half.
``I think (Sivels) being out affected the team's confidence,'' said Braves' center Quiana White. ``They're a really good team, but she's a major part of their game.''
The Hornets shot 22 percent (6 for 27) from the foul line for the game but drew within two points, 27-25, when Anecia Braithwaite nailed a pair of free throws with six minutes left in the fourth. But with Boyd already carrying four fouls, Indian River cleaned up inside, as shots by White and Latisha Grevious bumped the lead back up to a comfortable eight points.
Against Wilson, Great Bridge ran out to a 23-point lead in the second quarter and never looked back. Carey Stafford scored 16 for the Wildcats, while Kalisha Brown added 10. by CNB