THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502260192
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Terry Rouse was expected to have a banner junior campaign for Indian River this season. The rail-thin 6-foot-6 guard with the feathery jump shot appeared to be the Braves' top outside scoring threat.
But six games into the season, Rouse turned his ankle in a game with Deep Creek. The result was a 10-game span in which Rouse sat out four games, played when he shouldn't have and struggled.
``I tried to tell him to take his time coming back, but he wouldn't listen,'' said Indian River coach Freddie Spellman. ``Then he reinjured it.''
Rouse found himself relegated to a backup role. But in the last two weeks Rouse has returned to the early form he showed when he was averaging 11 points a game.
Now he's being used at point guard, where he can present a variety of problems for shorter opponents. The Braves will meet Bayside in the quarterfinals of the Eastern Region tournament Tuesday and Bayside's starting backcourt includes 5-8 Shawn Blassingill and 5-9 Eric Carballo.
``I started my sophomore season playing point guard, so it's a position I'm used to,'' Rouse said. ``If I get a small guy on me I'm going to try to post him up.''
NO SPECTATORS ALLOWED: When the spotlight was on in last year's Eastern Region final, D.J. Dunbar responded with a 31-point outburst loaded with 3-pointers and flamboyant dunks to lead Churchland to a victory over Kecoughtan.
The 6-foot-3 senior shooting guard says he has to fight a battle with overexcitement in such instances. So he imagines an empty gymnasium, even if there are 4,000 people in it.
``It just makes me play harder to see all those people,'' Dunbar said. ``It hypes me up. But coach (Mac Carroll) is always telling me to play like there's nobody there.''
WHALEN WATCHING: The college soccer signing period is now three weeks old and the area's top player, Cox High's Matt Whalen, has yet to sign.
Last year's Tidewater and Group AAA player of the year figures it could be another week before he makes a decision. And although he led the Beach District in scoring in basketball for the second consecutive year, basketball might not play a part in the process.
The 6-5 forward, who has averaged 16.3 points and 12 rebounds a game this season, is considering six schools. But only one, Navy, recruited him as a basketball player.
James Madison, William and Mary and Old Dominion University all indicated that he could sign to play soccer and attempt to make their basketball teams as a walk-on.
Whalen didn't discuss basketball with either Virginia and Virginia Tech, where he took his lone unofficial recruiting visit.
``I'm not thinking about it right now,'' Whalen said. ``I know most guys have already signed. In fact Virginia has used up all its scholarship money for this year. The big thing with my decision is I want an architectural degree. I've got to find a way to get that degree.''
GRANBY MOVES GAME: Granby will play its Eastern Region quarterfinal game at Lake Taylor High. ``We'd love to play in our little band box,'' Granby coach Tim Sweeney said. ``But that might not be fair for fans.'' Granby seats less than 500. Lake Taylor seats over 1,500. by CNB