THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508060184
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
A summer of breakneck basketball boiled to a conclusion Saturday night at Lake Taylor High, with two of the planet's best young players on the floor and an appreciative, overflow crowd in the stands at the Hampton Roads Pro-Am championship.
Allen Iverson scored 52 points to lead A&G Imports over Joe Smith and the rest of Bill Robinson's Bombers, 144-137, in front of about 1,500 fans.
Smith had 39 to finish 0-3 in summer matchups against the electric Iverson, the Big East Freshman of the Year from Georgetown.
Like the other two, this game could have been dubbed, ``Joe vs. The Volcano'', as Iverson erupted in dazzling bursts of scoring and passing to put his team over the top.
``It went right to the end, before we told Allen, `Sick 'em,' '' said A&G co-coach John Riddick.
Iverson had 32 in the second half and six in the final 90 seconds, and also set up his teammates with some nice passes down the stretch.
Still, Norfolk State's Carnell Penn kept the Bombers close with his long-range shooting. Penn hit six 3-pointers to finish with 44 points.
The 6-foot-1 Iverson scored an unheard-of 81 in a semifinal on Friday night, and announced his presence Saturday night by hitting a 28-foot jumper four minutes into the game.
A&G trailed, 62-55, at halftime, but rode Iverson's 23 third-quarter points to take a 102-97 lead at the end of three. A&G never trailed afterward.
Wake Forest's Tony Rutland added 23 for A&G, while Old Dominion's Mario Mullen had 20.
``It was great to play with Allen and everything,'' said Rutland, who played with Iverson at Bethel High. ``I cherish this moment. You never know. We may not be able to play together again.''
Smith and Iverson are sure to meet again, however, in the NBA. The 6-9 Smith, drafted No. 1 by the Golden State Warriors in June, said he was glad to be able to play in front of hometown fans one last time before starting his pro career. That assumes the NBA is able to resolve its labor problems, of course.
``It's a lot of fun to come back here and play in front of people you know,'' Smith said. ``I just hope this isn't the only basketball I'll be playing for a while.''
In the women's championship, Shernia Smith scored 17 points to lead Planet Music over Diva Productions, 75-68. Diva was led by Helen Holloway and Misty Hart, with 17 points each.
Former Norfolk State star Darren Sanderlin won the three-point shooting contest and Corey Etheridge of Virginia Beach took the slam dunk title.
A summer of breakneck basketball boiled to a conclusion Saturday night at Lake Taylor High, with two of the planet's best young players on the floor and an appreciative, overflow crowd in the stands at the Hampton Roads Pro-Am championship.
Allen Iverson scored 52 points to lead A&G Imports over Joe Smith and the rest of Bill Robinson's Bombers, 144-137, in front of about 1,500 fans.
Smith had 39 to finish 0-3 in summer matchups against the electric Iverson, the Big East Freshman of the Year from Georgetown.
Like the other two, this game could have been dubbed, ``Joe vs. The Volcano'', as Iverson erupted in dazzling bursts of scoring and passing to put his team over the top.
``It went right to the end, before we told Allen, `Sick 'em,' '' said A&G co-coach John Riddick.
Iverson had 32 in the second half and six in the final 90 seconds, and also set up his teammates with some nice passes down the stretch.
Still, Norfolk State's Carnell Penn kept the Bombers close with his long-range shooting. Penn hit six 3-pointers to finish with 44 points.
The 6-foot-1 Iverson scored an unheard-of 81 in a semifinal on Friday night, and announced his presence Saturday night by hitting a 28-foot jumper four minutes into the game.
A&G trailed, 62-55, at halftime, but rode Iverson's 23 third-quarter points to take a 102-97 lead at the end of three. A&G never trailed afterward.
Wake Forest's Tony Rutland added 23 for A&G, while Old Dominion's Mario Mullen had 20.
``It was great to play with Allen and everything,'' said Rutland, who played with Iverson at Bethel High. ``I cherish this moment. You never know. We may not be able to play together again.''
Smith and Iverson are sure to meet again, however, in the NBA. The 6-9 Smith, drafted No. 1 by the Golden State Warriors in June, said he was glad to be able to play in front of hometown fans one last time before starting his pro career. That assumes the NBA is able to resolve its labor problems, of course.
``It's a lot of fun to come back here and play in front of people you know,'' Smith said. ``I just hope this isn't the only basketball I'll be playing for a while.''
In the women's championship, Shernia Smith scored 17 points to lead Planet Music over Diva Productions, 75-68.
Former Norfolk State star Darren Sanderlin won the 3-point shooting contest and Corey Etheridge of Virginia Beach took the slam dunk title. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/Staff
Georgetown's Allen Iverson capped a spectacular Pro-Am season with
52 points in Saturday's championship.
by CNB