THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 7, 1995 TAG: 9504070671
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
The postseason ended for Old Dominion University with its NCAA Tournament loss to Tulsa. But it's still going on for ODU seniors Mike Jones and Petey Sessoms - and with eye-popping results.
Jones scored the final eight points, finishing with a team-high 22, in leading Hoechst Celanese to a 105-104 victory over the Portsmouth Sports Club on Thursday in the 43rd annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament at Churchland High School.
In the finale of the opening round, Bill Lewis Chevrolet defeated Dolsey Ltd., 97-83, behind 23 points from NAIA Player of the Year Nate Driggers of Montevallo.
In the afternoon consolation game, Sessoms put on a one-man show in leading the Norfolk Naval Shipyard to a 96-94 victory over Sales Systems Ltd.
The 6-foot-7 Portsmouth native poured in 36 points, hitting 10 of 17 from the floor, including two 3-pointers. He made 14 of 17 free throws and quite likely earned himself an invitation to additional postseason competition in Phoenix.
Jones had a miserable start, making 2 of 9 field-goal attempts in the first half and going 0 for 5 in 3-point attempts. But the 6-5 Monarch went into high gear after intermission, connecting on 5 of 7 from the floor and 5 of 5 free throws. He snagged seven rebounds and had three assists.
His two free throws with 15 seconds left offset a game-ending layup by Nicolls State's Reggie Jackson to provide the one-point win.
Jackson, a late replacement for Virginia's Junior Burrough, paced the Sports Club with 23 points.
Driggers, pleased with his performance, said he ``was just continuing to show people I can play. I was player of the year, but they tell me I'm a bubble player for the NBA. I'll just have to keep showing them.''
Norfolk State's Corey Williams, after a shaky start, finished with a team-high 18 points for Dolsey. He had 10 in the second half.
The afternoon game was decided on a tie-breaking field goal by Vanderbilt's Ronnie McMahan with four seconds left. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON, Staff
Bryan Collins of Southwestern Louisiana struggles to pull in a
rebound during action Thursday in the Portsmouth Invitational
Tournament at Churchland High School.
by CNB