THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511040104
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 29 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
WITH YORK ALREADY qualified for the Region I girls basketball tournament, it's up to the other Bay Rivers District teams to battle for the remaining two spots.
The Falcons (13-1) get an automatic bid to the regional tournament for winning the regular season title. If York also wins the district tournament, the second and third place finishers join the Falcons for regional play. If York loses in the tournament, the top two teams will advance to region competition.
In the district tournament's opening round, which starts Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the higher seeds' home courts, No. 1 York will face No. 8 Smithfield (0-14); No. 2 Bruton (12-2) will take on No. 7 Southampton (2-12); No. 3 Nansemond River (10-4) will host No. 6 Poquoson (4-10); and No. 4 Lakeland (9-5) will play No. 5 Franklin (6-8). The region tournament begins Nov. 14 at Lakeland.
``Most everybody steps up for the district tournament so I think we'll see some upsets,'' Lakeland coach Stephanie Odom said. ``A team that's not expected to do well will have nothing to lose.''
The Cavaliers had won five straight before losing 53-49 to Bruton and 71-40 against York last week.
``We're going to need a little more outside shooting (in the tournaments),'' Odom said. ``We need to free up the big girls inside. They're learning to move without the ball better, but our guards will have to step up and shoot.''
Lakeland has shown a balanced attack this season. Juniors Cherri Phillips and Rebecca Demiel each average nearly 14 points per game, while senior Angela Jones has scored just over 10.
``They've made some big adjustments after losing a player like Hope (Knight) to graduation,'' Odom said. ``We have missed that 18 points a game so we're really trying to fill a big void.''
Nansemond River has also needed players to step up. Angie Gatling, a second team all-district selection last year, has missed the entire season because of a knee injury.
``We've all realized that she wouldn't be playing,'' Nansemond River coach Sandra McCray said. ``They knew they would have to give 100 percent plus to be successful. They've had to make the adjustment and they've made it well.''
Sophomore Joycelyn Williams and junior Jannine Porter are the Warriors' leading scorers, averaging 17 and 12 points, respectively. The two had led Nansemond River to five straight wins, including Thursday night's 46-29 win at Lakeland.
McCray hopes the Warriors' recent winning streak continues into the postseason.
``We've really been able to play our game lately,'' McCray said. ``We've been able to cut down on turnovers and mistakes. (In the tournament) we'll have to be consistent, especially on offense, and play a heck of a defensive game.''
Both coaches said York can be beaten.
``We've had a chance to give them a run for the money,'' said McCray, whose team pulled within three of the Falcons in the second half before losing by nine two weeks ago. ``We have to go from start to finish to beat them. The thing that hurts us is depth.''
Said Odom, ``(York) has a good bench, but I haven't seen a lot of outside shooting from them.''
Both coaches also said they wouldn't be surprised to see a Lakeland-Nansemond River final in the Bay Rivers tournament.
``The difference is going to be heart,'' Odom said of a Warrior-Cavalier championship game. ``Neither one of us has a lot of depth so we're in the same ballpark. It's going to come down to which bunch of girls wants it most and whose going to dig down.'' ILLUSTRATION: File photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Angela Jones, left, and Cherri Phillips figure heavily in the
Lakeland offense. Phillips is the leading scorer.
Junior Jannine Porter averages 12 points for Nansemond River.
by CNB