THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 20, 1996 TAG: 9601200448
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
One man's offensive execution is another man's defensive breakdown.
So when Lake Taylor's Darnell Whitaker popped free for three consecutive layups in overtime to fuel the Titans' 65-54 victory over Booker T. Washington, it figured the two teams would analyze it differently.
``All three plays were called,'' Lake Taylor coach John Kelley said.
The first option in each instance was 6-5 center Tony Harrell, who tied Toot Young for team scoring honors with 16 points.
``We were trying to get Tony to set a screen and roll to the ball,'' Kelley said. ``But they were switching a lot on defense.''
Not always at the right times, Bookers' point guard DeTron Short said. ``Everybody was going to the ball instead of staying with their man,'' Short said. ``We were worried about Toot.''
Whitaker's first layup, off a baseline lob from Harrell, broke a 53-53 tie and put the No. 9 Titans (9-4, 1-1) ahead to stay.
The Bookers' Dewayne Jacobs, who led all scorers with 21 points, missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Young penetrated the lane before dishing off to Whitaker for another layup that made it 57-53 with 1:22 left.
A turnover, one of four by the Bookers in overtime, returned the ball to Lake Taylor. A foul gave the Titans the ball out of bounds under their own basket and Brian Kelley found Whitaker again for a layup that pushed the margin to six with 40 seconds left.
``We just did what we were taught,'' Whitaker said. ``Tony set some good screens, Toot drove to the basket and Brian Kelley gave some all-out hustle.''
The Titans' victory ruined the return of their former coach, Jarrell Wilkerson, who left Lake Taylor after the 1993-94 season. He spent a year at Hampton University and took over at Booker T. this season.
``They played extremely well,'' Wilkerson said of the Titans. ``We played in spurts. One minute we play like the Chicago Bulls, the next minute the Los Angeles Clippers.''
The Bookers (6-7, 1-2) resembled the Clippers for an entire half in falling behind 25-15. But the third-quarter was vintage Bulls.
The Bookers, whose seven losses have all been to teams ranked in the Top 10, rattled off 27 points and twice went up by five.
But Young hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to pull the Titans to within three, and neither team led by more than three in the fourth quarter.
The Bookers' Antwan Epps scored the last basket in regulation, a short jumper off the glass with 2:32 left. Young missed for Lake Taylor, and the Bookers tried to hold for a final shot. But Harrell and Young double-teamed Short and stole the ball with five seconds left.
Young's 3-point attempt from the top of the key with one second left bounced off the rim. ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
Toni Harrell of Lake Taylor takes the ball to the hoop as Terry
Gray, left, and Kevin Fuller of Booker T. Washington try to get a
piece of the action. Lake Taylor won 65-54 in overtime.
by CNB