THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 4, 1995 TAG: 9503040570
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Does an unbeaten team have a psychological edge when the state tournament rolls around?
Kempsville High is about to find out.
The Chiefs (28-0) maintained their spotless record Friday night as center Carrie Johnson scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 46-33 victory over Hampton in the Eastern Region girls championship game at Churchland High.
``This team will do anything to avoid that first loss,'' Kempsville coach Greg Dunn said. ``I've had times in the past when I thought a loss would help a team. But it wouldn't help this one. There hasn't been the least bit of complacency on this squad. And that zero at the end of our record is helping us.''
The Crabbers (23-5) were banking on having a little complacency seep into the Chiefs' camp. Hampton won the opening tap and ran a stall offense for the game's first 90 seconds.
But Kempsville would not fall for the possum approach. And when Kristen Cholewa stole a Shanda Bailey pass and fed Charlette Fayton for a breakaway layup, the Chiefs began a 7-0 run.
``They wanted us to relax and get slow on our feet,'' said Johnson.
The Chiefs, who take pride in their man-to-man defense, used four different players - Cholewa, Fayton, Erin Duckett and Carrie Heath - to thwart Hampton's leading scorer, point guard Waynetta Veney.
Veney missed her first 14 shots from the field. She finally broke into the scoring column with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter. But by then, the Chiefs' lead had reached double digits. Veney finished with nine points.
``We basically wanted to make her work as hard as we possibly could offensively ... and defensively,'' Dunn said. ``We were able to throw a lot of stuff at her. I didn't know we could (keep Veney scoreless for over 21 minutes). But I thought we could contain her.''
The Chiefs will play the loser of tonight's Central Region final between Midlothian and James River in a state quarterfinal game next Saturday at Churchland at 6 p.m.
Kempsville's regional title was the first by a Beach District team since Kellam won in 1987 and it broke the Peninsula District's six-year strangle-hold on the title. The Chiefs did it by beating Peninsula representatives in the last two rounds, downing Menchville, 83-56, in the semifinals Wednesday.
After that up-tempo victory, Johnson said this slower-paced win gives the Chiefs confidence that they can play at any pace.
``It showed we can have patience when we have to,'' Johnson said, ``or we can run.''
HAMPTON (23-5): Bailey 14, Veney 9, Gilliam 0, Lassiter 4, Jones 1, Fennell 5, Richardson 0, Washington 0, Palmer 0. Totals 12 8-21 33.
KEMPSVILLE (28-0): Chowela 2, Patillo 5, Johnson 16, Duckett 4, Fayton 8, Richardson 0, Goodboy 0, Henn 5, Heath 6. Totals 19 7-13 46.
Hampton 5 7 10 11 - 33
Kempsville 10 7 17 12 - 46
3-point goals: Veney, Henn. Team fouls: Hampton 12, Kempsville 19. Fouled out: Fennell. by CNB