THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502220580
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
There were few surprises as Indian River and Deep Creek waltzed over opening-round opponents in their half of the Southeastern District boys basketball tournament Tuesday night at Indian River.
Now the teams find themselves on each other's dance card for Thursday night. And by the time they meet, a berth in the Eastern Region tournament could be at stake.
In Tuesday's first game, Deep Creek (13-8) used the superior inside play of Shelton Davis (18 points, 11 rebounds) and Arnie Powell (13 points, 8 rebounds) to corral Great Bridge, 58-46.
The Wildcats cut the Hornets' lead to 42-37 near the end of the third quarter on a three-point play by Mike Cuddyer. But Deep Creek answered with a 14-3 run that sealed the outcome.
Deep Creek's Javon Artis added 12 points and Mike Harrington had 10, while Great Bridge was led by Torey Jordan and Cuddyer, who both had 13 points.
In the night's second game, the Braves raced to a 38-18 lead early in the third quarter and Western Branch could do little more than whittle it down the rest of the way.
David Selby, a 5-foot-10 sophomore guard, led Indian River with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 4 steals.
Terry Rouse, Jamal Creecy and Morgan Jackson each chipped in with 10 points. Lorenzo Ferguson led Western Branch with 13 points, Dre Bly had 12 and Josh Brinkley had 10.
Regular-season champion Churchland is already assured a regional berth; the Southeastern's second berth will go to the tournament's highest finishing team other than Churchland. If Churchland has made the tournament final, Thursday's Indian River-Deep Creek game at Churchland High will be for a regional berth. If Churchland doesn't make the final, however, the winner of that game will advance to the regional.
Indian River walloped the Hornets, 78-63, in their first meeting this season. But it was payback time when the Hornets beat the Braves, 72-59, at Deep Creek three weeks ago.
``We were able to break Indian River's press the second time,'' Deep Creek coach Benny Polk said. ``And that is a key to beating them.''
But it's not everything. The Braves possess enough interior size to give opponents headaches. And with 6-4 sophomore Powell as Deep Creek's tallest starter, he'll be called on to deliver an interior presence.
``Arnie's really done a good job down the stretch,'' Polk said. ``He and Shelton are both going to have to have big games for us (Thursday).''
Indian River coach Freddie Spellman believes the Braves must cut down on errors to win this rubber match.
``We didn't shoot well the second time we played them,'' Spellman said. ``And we had a few too many turnovers. We're just going to have to outplay them. That's all.'' by CNB