THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995 TAG: 9512010386
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: High School Boys Basketball Preview
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
The only thing Indian River lacks in the Southeastern District is a serious challenger.
The Braves have the components to make a run at the state title while nearly everyone else is rebuilding or running in place.
Deep Creek, with a pair of proven scorers in Arnie Powell and Javon Artis, is the best of the rest.
And there'll be a quick opportunity chance to find out about the chances of the Hornets, who get a crack at Indian River on Dec. 14.
INDIAN RIVER Coach: Freddie Spellman
Last season: 20-8 overall, 11-3 district (second)
Impact players: Jason Capel, 6-7 sophomore forward; Terry Rouse, 6-6 senior guard; David Selby, 6-1 junior guard; James Boyd, 6-0 junior guard.
Newcomers to watch: Antwan Stukes, 6-3 freshman forward; Lonnie Whitehead, 6-4 junior forward; William Nichols, 5-9 sophomore guard.
Outlook: Capel, Selby, Rouse and Boyd all averaged between 9 and 11 points per game. Depth and size - 6-8 Ed Seward backs up Capel - allows Spellman to play his favorite full-court presses. Rouse causes serious matchup problems at guard.
DEEP CREEK Coach: Benny Polk
Last season: 13-9 overall, 10-4 district (third)
Impact players: Arnie Powell, 6-5 junior forward; Javon Artis, 6-1 junior guard; Antonio Rhodes, 6-0 senior guard; Chad Sorrell, 5-10 junior guard.
Newcomers to watch: Otis Stitt, 6-0 junior guard; Chris Mullins, 5-11 junior guard.
Outlook: The Hornets lack size except for Powell, but are quick, deep and athletic. They can defend the ball and shoot the 3-pointer. Powell and Artis combined to average 24.6 points per game last year. Powell looks ready to blossom into a dominant player and Artis is the perfect sidekick.
CHURCHLAND Coach: Mac Carroll
Last season: 21-5 overall, 13-1 district (first)
Impact players: Dion Langley, 6-1 senior guard; Jason Lewis, 6-7 senior center; Sadiki Tingling, 6-5 junior forward.
Newcomers to watch: Patrick Dulin, 6-0 senior guard; Jermaine Turner, 5-11 senior forward.
Outlook: Showtime is over with the departure of D.J. Dunbar, Marvin Rodgers and Mike Holland, but the Truckers won't drive off a cliff. They have the size to match up inside with Indian River and the speed to play a fullcourt game. Langley is a three-year starter and Dulin, a transfer from Peninsula Catholic, averaged 17.5 points last year.
NORCOM Coach: Joel Copeland
Last season: 9-13 overall, 7-7 district (fourth)
Impact players: Jamal Price, 6-9 senior center; Quentin Saunders, 6-0 senior guard; Michael Ponds, 6-5 junior forward.
Newcomers to watch: Xavier Drake, 6-3 sophomore forward; Carlton Bowens, 6-0 sophomore guard.
Outlook: Saunders gives new coach Copeland experience at the most important position, point guard. Finding someone to pass to might be another matter. Ponds is the top returning scorer at 8.3 per game. Price is a shotblocker, but lacks low post offensive skills.
GREAT BRIDGE Coach: Martin Oliver
Last season: 7-15 overall, 4-10 district (sixth)
Impact players: Tony King, 5-9 senior guard; Steve Hargrow, 5-9 junior guard.
Newcomers to watch: Chris Gibson, 5-10 junior guard; Steve Parker, 6-3 junior forward.
Outlook: King averaged 16.1 points and led the team in assists before breaking an ankle last season. The Wildcats were 1-5 in the games he missed. Hargrow averaged 9.2 points with a high of 21 and is one of three juniors - forwards Mike Cuddyer and Lew Frampton are the others - to play in every game last season.
WILSON Coach: Terence Green
Last season: 2-19 overall, 2-12 district (eighth)
Impact players: Perez Bottoms, 6-1 senior guard; Terrance Winston, 5-10 sophomore guard.
Newcomers to watch: Rahn Sykes, 6-3 junior forward; Donald Wells, 6-5 senior center.
Outlook: Green, in his first season, has some talent. Bottoms averaged 16 points, second among returning scorers in the district behind Great Bridge's King. Winston played in all but one game and Stephon White, a good rebounder at only 6-foot, played in all but two. Green calls Sykes ``a budding star.''
WESTERN BRANCH Coach: Mike Donovan
Last season: 5-16 overall, 3-11 district (seventh)
Impact players: Lorenzo Ferguson, 6-1 senior guard; Daryl Walton, 5-10 junior guard.
Newcomers to watch: Jermaine Johnson, 6-3 junior forward; Kris Archer, 5-10 junior guard; Nathan Chappell, 6-5 freshman forward.
Outlook: The Bruins are cast in the same mold as Oscar Smith. They have some good athletes and will play aggressive defense. Ferguson is a physical guard with scoring potential; he averaged 11 points per game last year.
OSCAR SMITH Coach: Sandy Williams
Last season: 10-12 overall, 6-8 district (fifth)
Impact players: Moses Johnson, 6-0 senior forward; Jamar Lewis, 6-1 senir guard.
Newcomers to watch: Lavar Griffin, 6-1 junior guard; Mydrione Halsey, 6-2 sophomore forward.
Outlook: The Tigers will live and die with pressure defense, hoping to force turnovers and create easy baskets. Rebounding is a major concern with only one player - 6-5 Kelvin Sykes, who scored 21 points in a reserve role last season - taller than 6-3. Johnson, a defensive demon, is also the leading returning scorer at 8 points per game. by CNB