THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503190166
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Northside coach Bill Pope has spent the better part of three years trying to forget the 1992 Nansemond River team that denied his Vikings a state title.
The 1995 Warriors gave him a new team to haunt his memory as they rolled to an 84-57 Group AA state title victory over the Vikings behind a record-setting performance from Antoine Willie Saturday afternoon at Liberty University's Vines Center.
Willie totaled 30 points to bring his three-game total to 91 points. That broke the record of 83, set by Bryant Stith in 1988 and matched by Walt Derey of Northside in '92.
The title is head coach Spencer Mayfield's second with the Warriors and his fourth career crown. And while Northside might disagree, they gained it playing well below their ability.
``They were great today,'' Pope said.
``They didn't play 100 percent today,'' Mayfield said. ``They were at about 40 to 45 percent yesterday (in the semifinals), and I'd say about 60 to 70 percent today.
``The most important thing to these kids and to me was that we have more points on our side than they have on theirs.''
Nansemond River (26-2) did that shooting just 33.9 percent for the game, more than making up for their shooting effort on defense.
``This goes back to the old adage that defense wins championships, and they played better defense than we did,'' Pope said. ``We contested a lot of shots, and they still made a lot of them.''
As Northside (21-8) was focusing their attention on Willie and Montoria Valentine, who totaled 23 points, it was another Warrior who stepped up and started connecting early in the game.
Team captain Maurice Fofana, a 6-0 junior guard who will be over the age limit to play next season and will graduate after summer school, scored all of his 11 points in the first half after getting 17 in Friday's semifinal.
``People looked at me and said he's not going to shoot,'' said Fofana, who came into the final games of the tournament averaging just under seven points per game. ``I felt like I had to do more than I had been doing before, and teams never look at me to score, but I knew I could score.''
Getting the ball into Willie's and Valentine's hands has been Fofana's job all season. The Vikings played like they expected that, which opened up the lane for Fofana in the first half.
``I didn't know he was going to do the things he did,'' Mayfield said. ``But he's always been taught that when they tighten up on one and double team the other, you have to do things to offset that.''
Fofana injured his left ankle in December and still has days where it bothers him, including Saturday.
``The ankle started hurting at the beginning of the game,'' Fofana said. ``I just played through it. I'm not sure I was at 100 percent, but in my mind I was 100 percent. I was just in a flow of things this weekend.''
As has been the story throughout the tournament, the early minutes of the third period were decisive for Nansemond River. The Warriors opened it up with an 11-1 run keyed by a pair of treys from Willie and further helped by Northside's failure from bonusland.
The Vikings missed three 3-point shots during the 3 1/2 minute stretch.
``Coach said we had to work it inside and outside,'' Northside guard Justin Porterfield said. ``I think we took too many 3s in that stretch.''
It was during that stretch that Willie tied the scoring record with the second 3-pointer, and the Warriors gained a 50-33 edge.
Mayfield barely had time to look at the trophy in his hands before people started mentioning a second straight title in '96.
``Twelve of these guys will be back,'' Fofana said. ``So I'll look for them again.''
Mayfield looked across the court at his celebrating team and refused to speculate.
``I don't worry about it,'' Mayfield said. ``I want them to get the glory and the honor now. I work hard, plot strategy, scout teams. But they have to do the work, I give the credit to them.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by TAMARA VONINSKI, Staff
Vernon Wilson, left, and Randell White celebrate Nansemond River's
second state title in four years.
Photo by TAMARA VONINSKI, Staff
Nansemond River's James Parker tries to block Northside's Dana
Gibson.
Vernon Wilson, left, and Randell White celebrate Nansemond River's
second state title in four years.
by CNB