THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512090113
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Portsmouth Christian should be in the chase for the boys basketball championship in the Metro Conference this season.
A veteran team strengthened by several transfer additions, Portsmouth Christian is coming off a 13-18 season. The team was 7-5 in league play in the 1994-95 campaign.
This season, Portsmouth Christian has registered five victories in its first six outings, including a rally from a 10-point deficit at halftime for a 70-53 victory over Peninsula Catholic Tuesday night.
The rebounding of Danny Barton, a 6-5 senior center, has been instrumental in the team's early success. He hauled down 17 rebounds against Peninsula Catholic.
Another holdover, 5-10 junior guard Brian Rustay, is the scoring leader. He had 24 points against Peninsula Catholic.
Alliance Christian lost all its starters from last season and is building around products of last year's fine junior varsity team. The Eagles will do well to match last year's 4-8 league record and 4-15 overall mark. Alliance dropped its first Metro game and was 1-4 overall through Tuesday games.
A capsule look at area private school teams:
ALLIANCE CHRISTIAN
Coach: Rick Dorn
Last season: 4-15, 4-8 in Metro Conference
Impact players: Chad Boykin, 5-10 senior guard; Charlie Parker, 6-0 senior center/forward; Kevin Compton, 6-2 junior guard; Eugene Potts, 6-3 junior center-forward; Matt Gray, 6-2 junior forward.
Newcomers to watch: Chad Feyer, 6-0 sophomore forward/guard; Shannon Insley, 5-10 junior forward/guard; Troy Dozier, 5-10 junior guard; Tim Loulies, 5-9 junior guard.
Outlook: The team should improve with experience as the Eagles are building around junior varsity grads with the loss of last year's entire starting lineup. Seven junior varsity products are on the team.
PORTSMOUTH CHRISTIAN
Coach: Larry Smith
Last season: 13-18, 7-5 in Metro Conference.
Impact players: Danny Barton, 6-5 senior center; Brian McCauley, 6-1 sophomore forward; Brian Rustay, 5-10 junior guard.
Newcomers to watch: Andy Ballard, 5-8 senior guard; Imani Gregory, 5-8 sophomore guard; Matt Hines, 6-1 senior forward; Jay Parker, 6-1 senior forward.
Outlook: With three holdover starters and four transfers from other area schools, Portsmouth Christian is looking for a good season. The team is extremely quick and plans to step up its pressure defense.
BROADWATER
Coach: Kenny Collins
Last season: 23-7, 12-0 in Metro Conference.
Impact players: Drew Edwards, 6-0 senior guard; Neill Bradley, 6-4 senior center; Lance Nickel, 5-11 senior forward; Thom Dix, 6-0 junior guard.
Newcomers to watch: Andy Drewer, 6-3 junior forward; Spence Shelley, 6-7 senior center; Jordan West, 5-10 sophomore guard.
Outlook: Six of the top seven players on last year's team are gone but Edwards, a starter since the eighth grade, provides good leadership at point guard. The 6-7 Shelley was out last year due to an injury. Collins looks for a break-even season.
RYAN
Coach: Bob Mackey
Last season: 4-18 in Metro Conference.
Impact players: Kevin Ferguson, 6-1 junior forward; Jonathan Collins, 6-4 sophomore center.
Newcomers to watch: Corey Hunter, 6-0 sophomore forward; David Borger, 5-10 sophomore guard; Henry Dobles, 5-10 sophomore guard.
Outlook: Collins was the most valuable player on last year's junior varsity and has some varsity experience. Ferguson is the only varsity holdover. Dobles is a Spanish exchange student. New coach Mackey faces a building program.
ROCK
Coach: Anwan Reid
Last season: Independent team
Impact players: Keith Barnes, junior forward/center; Mike Phillips, junior forward/guard; Chris Glissman, senior guard; Anthony Forbes, senior forward; Travis Ashby, junior forward/guard.
Newcomers to watch: Shawn Taylor, junior guard; Troy Buchanan, junior forward; Mike Sabo, junior forward; Brandon Fary, junior guard.
Outlook: This will be a rebuilding year for the Eagles, primarily from players who are moving up from the junior varsity. by CNB