THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 28, 1995 TAG: 9508280119
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Just as with cheesecake and pizza, there's a distinct New York style of basketball. It's straight ahead and relentless. It's never settling for a jump shot when a drive to the basket is even a remote possibility.
And sometimes it goes too far, as was the case in Sunday's National Pro-Am Invitational championship game at Lake Taylor High.
For three days, New York Majesco Primetime's hard-to-the-hole style served it well. The national Pro-Am champions went unbeaten and reached Sunday's title game at Lake Taylor High.
But there they ran into a Maryland squad that cut off its drives. New York couldn't adjust and Maryland prevailed, 117-110, to claim the tournament championship and the $2,000 first prize.
``We just gave them the jump shots, but they kept driving anyway,'' said Maryland's Derwin Lilly, who had 33 points and six treys. ``Everything was to the basket.''
It worked fine in the first half, when Primetime built a 16-point lead. But Maryland cut it to eight at halftime and kept chipping away in the third quarter, when Lilly and tournament most valuable player Eric Love (36 points) got hot.
``We knew as long as we stayed composed, they would crack,'' Maryland coach Dallas Grasty said. ``Other teams play into their hands, and try to play that playground style with them.''
Maryland was more disciplined and team-oriented and got strong efforts not only from Love and Lilly but from former Georgetown players Robert Churchwell (17 points) and Lamont Morgan (16).
Morgan, in particular, gave guards James ``Speedy'' Williams and Howie Hudson a hard time in the second half with his defense.
``They collapsed on us, and we weren't cutting,'' Hudson said. ``It was a struggle to even score a basket for a while.''
Williams had a team-high 26 points but was in foul trouble in the second half and expended much of his energy complaining about the all-NBA officiating crew.
New York had nine offensive foul calls, including several crucial ones down the stretch.
``That's our thing,'' Williams said. ``But we'll be back. We're going to come back with our full squad, our big men and our scorers. We're gonna hurt them next year.''
And there will be a next year, Hampton Roads Pro-Am commissioner Wayne Hoffler said. Hoffler is hoping that with more advertising and an earlier starting date - which would allow more overseas professionals to play - the tournament will be more successful. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by BILL TIERNAN
New York Majesco Primetime's Shane Vaz, left, and James Miller argue
with referee Tony Brother after their Pro-Am loss.
by CNB