THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 1, 1995 TAG: 9503010627
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLIE DENN, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
The bus ride to the Peninsula was eventful, but once Maury's Commodores got to the gym, they got down to business.
Maury played nip-and-tuck with Menchville for three quarters before pulling away in the last period to claim a 62-54 victory in an Eastern Regional boys quarterfinal game Tuesday night.
The victory sends the Commodores (18-6) into the regional semifinals Thursday night at Churchland High School against Indian River.
``We reacted well to the long ride over here,'' said Maury coach Jack Baker of the team's nearly two-hour trip to the Peninsula. A traffic backup created the longer-than-usual ride and forced the game to be delayed about 15 minutes.
Once the game started, however, Maury played well, dashing to a 13-8 lead. Ray Heard, Maury's top scorer with 19 points, sparked the Commodores with seven first-quarter points.
But Menchville (16-7), the Peninsula District regular-season champion, took a 24-21 lead with 2:12 left in the half. Maury scored the final five points before intermission.
In the third quarter neither team could get the upper hand by much. Menchville led 40-39 after three quarters.
Baker cited a defensive change as a key factor in Maury's taking command in the final period. The Commodores are primarily a man-to-man team, but Baker shifted into a zone to force Menchville to shoot more from outside.
``We haven't played much zone all year,'' Baker said, ``but it worked for us tonight. I was disappointed in our man defense. I thought they were getting too many easy shots inside, so we went with the zone.''
The Monarchs, who have thrived on long-distance shooting, could not get the shots to drop. Menchville shot 5 for 19 (26.3 percent) in the final eight minutes.
Shaun Jackson gave Maury the lead for good at 44-42 with a basket with 6:06 to play. Greg Ridley then stole the ball at midcourt and drove in for a basket to boost the Commodores to a four-point edge.
The lead was never less than three points after that. Maury made 15 of 18 foul shots in the final quarter.
Guard Ike Richardson, who scored 15 points, was 10 for 10 from the line in the final 3:38.
``Ike shoots free throws well,'' said Baker. ``He's as good as anyone at the line.''
Richardson also did a superb defensive job on Menchville's top scorer, guard David Macklin, who scored just six points and hit 3 of 11 from the floor.
The Commodores got another big rebounding effort from Jackson, who also contributed 13 points. Jackson grabbed 20 rebounds and was a force inside as well, blocking five shots. by CNB