THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512170191
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
It was hard to tell which was more surprising: Tallwood's 59-58 victory over Petersburg or the method in which the second-ranked Lions prevailed in Saturday's Tidewater Classic at Norfolk State.
Petersburg led 58-53 and had the ball with under a minute to play.
The Crimson Wave missed two shots and then fouled Tallwood's Phil Clay, who hit both free throws to make it 58-55 with 49 seconds left. Petersburg's Don Brooks missed a pair of foul shots with 29 seconds left and Tallwood called timeout with 24 seconds left.
Tallwood coach Johnny Pope then called a play for center Neil Roberts.
``I just had to take a good shot and draw contact,'' said Roberts, who led all players with 23 points and 16 rebounds.
Roberts hit a 10-footer from the side of the lane and was fouled.
``I was pretty nervous at the line,'' he said. ``I hadn't been shooting free throws well.
Roberts made the shot to tie and then Tallwood pressed fullcourt for the first time in the game. Rian Everett reached around Major Preston to knock the ball loose at midcourt, recovered it and was fouled with seven seconds left.
Everett, who scored 18 points but was only 1 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc, missed the first free throw and made the second to give Tallwood its first lead since 30-29.
The Lions pressed again and Petersburg's Bernard Johnson tried to beat it off the dribble. But with Phillip Clay harassing him, he failed to get off a shot before time expired.
In other Tidewater Classic games:
Green Run 67, Lakeland 62: The third-ranked Stallions improved to 5-0 by outscoring the Cavaliers 26-6 at the foul line. Green Run attempted 51 free throws to Lakeland's nine and the Cavaliers had four players foul out.
This was the third game this week Green Run rallied to win after trailing at halftime and put them in a position to move up to No. 1.
``We stunk up the court in the first half,'' Green Run's Kenyon Mullen said after coming off the bench to score 13 points and make several key defensive plays down the stretch. ``There was no crowd and we had to motivate ourselves. If we become No. 1 that's OK. We're all seniors. We can take the pressure.''
Lakeland trailed by only 65-62 when Brian Baker hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left. But the Cavaliers were forced to foul and Rod Cooper hit two free throws with five seconds left to clinch it for the Stallions.
Lakeland led 34-28 at halftime but Green Run rallied behind Bobby Glos to go ahead 47-43. Glos scored 14 of his 18 points in the third quarter.
Lakeland's last lead was at 49-48 with 7:11 left. But Cooper hit a jumper, Plaxico Burress had a stick-back and Will Brooks hit a pair of free throws to put Green Run in front for good.
Woodbridge 64, Nansemond River 51: The top-ranked Warriors suffered a second-half meltdown for the second time in three days. Nansemond River scored only 15 points in the second half and five in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors trailed 54-49 when Maurice Fofana hit a 3-pointer with 6:29 to play, but didn't score again until Leroy Skinner hit a layup with 24 seconds left.
Nansemond River missed eight shots and made four turnovers during that stretch.
Montoria Valetine led Nansemond River with 14 points, but grabbed only six rebounds. Antoine Willie scored 13 points on 5-of-17 shooting.
Booker T. Washington 59, Northeastern (N.C.) 33: The Bookers opened with an 8-0 run and led 20-2 behind Dewayne Jacobs' seven first-quarter points.
Simon Gratz (Pa.) 58, Bayside 51: Marvin O'Connor had 19 points for the Bulldogs. Jimmy Walker scored 16 points for the No. 8 Marlins.
Christian Life 56, Franklin 38: Desmond Williams hit four 3-pointers and the Crusaders outscored the Broncos in every quarter.
Paul Robeson (N.Y.) 56, St. Augustine (La.) 44: Allen Griffin had 14 points for the Eagles. by CNB