THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503240216
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 32 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
VERY SOON, the red sign at Nansemond River High School that pronounces it the home of the 1991-92 State Group AA boys basketball champions will be joined by another sign commemorating the 1994-95 champs.
Save room for the 1995-96 champions as well.
Only Maurice Fofana, James Parker and Donald Turner will not be back next season.
Fofana's leadership and Parker's size played no small role in taking the Warriors to No. 1, but Nansemond River has made an art out of recovering from graduation.
The spring of '92 saw the loss of Derrick Bryant, now at Norfolk State, from that championship team.
The Warriors responded by winning the Bay Rivers District title.
The 1993-94 Warriors won the district again and advanced to the state semifinals, where they fell to Louisa.
Twelve members of that team graduated last spring, leaving head coach Spencer Mayfield with the prospect of rebuilding.
This rebuilding year saw the emergence of sophomore superstar Antoine Willie and a young, inexperienced Nansemond River team that rolled to the state championship, virtually unchallenged.
Willie became Nansemond River's first Region I player of the year since Bryant. He also garnered a first team All-Tidewater selection, broke Bryant Stith's state tournament scoring record and should be an easy Group AA player of the year choice.
But make no mistake, this is far from a one-man show.
Mayfield admits that this season's game plan was built around Willie's ability, but it suited everyone else's to a tee.
Montoria Valentine never failed to pick up the slack when Willie was in foul trouble or had an off night, and it will be Valentine who will fill Fofana's shoes as team leader next season.
Leshawn Pugh was arguably the most improved player in the Bay Rivers District. He moved into a starting spot by the end of the season and was a constant menace on the boards throughout the tournament.
And the list goes on and on.
All you needed to see was a play late in the third period of the state title game to know just how deep this team's talent runs.
Sophomore Leroy Skinner stole the ball from Northside's Justin Porterfield and found junior Karron Riddick in the paint. Riddick sank a reverse layup as he fell to the floor and drew the foul. He also nailed the free throw.
Liberty University's Vines Center was buzzing after the Warriors ousted Liberty-Bedford in the semifinals by 10 points.
But the Warriors knew they had not played well. Those who watched them week after week knew they had not played well, but to the rest of the state, they looked awesome.
The championship game was better, but still not to the level they are capable of, or even to the potential they showed in the Region I final against Bluestone.
If this young, inexperienced team can get the job done playing well below their abilities, who is going to be able to touch a more experienced version?
``They have not played 100 percent yet,'' Mayfield said. ``I'm waiting for the night when they all hit it on the same night.
``That will be something to see.''
Yes it will. ILLUSTRATION: Head coach Spencer Mayfield Jr. gives instructions to Leroy
Skinner during the semifinals at Liberty University in Lynchburg.
Staff photos by TAMARA VONINSKI
Nansemond River players and cheerleaders celebrate after beating
Northside to take the state championship.
Nansemond River's Antonio Jackson, left, and Lashaun Pugh battle for
the ball with Northside player Dana Gibson.
by CNB