THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602020194
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
NOT MANY COACHES with a team near the bottom of the district standings would be looking forward to the second half of their season. But Franklin boys basketball coach James Jones has reason to be optimistic as the Broncos head into the final weeks before postseason.
Franklin (5-10 overall, 2-7 Bay Rivers District) has four players who joined the team this week after regaining academic eligibility for the second semester. Abdulla Merriweather, a 6-foot-4, 235 pound sophomore, and Xavier Scott, a 6-3, 190 pound junior, are expected to help Franklin inside, while senior Jamie Wilson, a 5-10 senior, and Antwan Smith, a 6-1 freshman, add depth in the backcourt.
``With the kids we picked up, we can be a good team,'' Jones said. ``We needed an inside game and those two (Merriweather and Scott) add that, but they've got to get in game shape.''
Jones said the ``better mix'' should help Bronco guards Sidney Gainey (19.9 points per game) and Carlandous Banks (11.4). Merriweather averaged six points per game last season while Scott and Wilson each saw playing time,
``The outside guys will have to look inside,'' Jones said. ``They've realized that except for three games, we had opportunities to win. We just have to stay positive, especially down the stretch.''
Franklin's ``stretch'' includes games against three of the district's top four teams - Nansemond River, Lakeland and Smithfield - that beat the Broncos early in the season.
``The guys are now confident,'' Jones said, ``but you have to make it happen on the court.''
Here is a look at other area teams with their records and statistics before Friday's games:
NANSEMOND RIVER (13-2 overall, 9-0 Bay Rivers District): The Warriors have won 11 in a row since losing to Green Run and Woodbridge in the Tidewater Classic in December, but coach Spencer Mayfield says his team still hasn't peaked.
``I'm waiting for them to put the total package together,'' said Mayfield, whose team won the Group AA state championship last season. ``Last year at this time, everything was pretty much in place. They're working at it and are making progress every day.''
Junior guard Antoine Willie leads Nansemond River with 25.6 points per game, followed by seniors Montoria Valentine with 14.9 and LaShawn Pugh with 10.2. Valentine has had four straight 20-plus rebound games and averages more than 15 boards and four steals per game.
LAKELAND (9-5, 7-1 Bay Rivers): Cavalier players said after a 54-52 loss to Nansemond River Jan. 15 that they were ``starting over from here.'' Since that game, Lakeland has won four straight by an average of 20 points.
``Definitely, in all areas we've gotten better,'' coach John Fuller said. ``We're playing more together.''
Junior Damon Tillery leads a quartet of double figure scorers with 16.5 points per game. He's followed by seniors Brian Baker (12.5), John Ricks (11.0) and Amon Cross (10.1).
Lakeland will see how much it improved over the last four games when it visits Nansemond River Tuesday.
NANSEMOND-SUFFOLK ACADEMY (15-4, 6-0 Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools): The Saints, ranked No. 7 in the Virginia Independent Schools Div. I poll, have won eight straight and 12 of their last 13. Freshman Warren Carroll has been the spark, averaging 18.7 points per game and shooting 46 percent from the field.
``He's what makes us go,'' coach Rick Van Orden said of Carroll. ``He does it night after night . . . but (the rest of the team) has come together and really played well around him.''
Van Orden said N-SA, which was tied with Norfolk Academy for the TCIS lead before the two played Friday, will have to improve its shooting and continue to play good defense.
SOUTHAMPTON (9-5, 5-3 Bay Rivers): The Indians are third in the district behind Nansemond River and Lakeland but haven't been able to string together more than two straight wins this season.
``We have to play more team-oriented,'' coach Randy Jesse said. ``Our offense is too impatient sometimes.''
Shawn Tann leads a trio of Southampton players scoring in double figures with 18.6 points per game. Rodney Darden averages 12.9, while Greg Scott has 11.2.
SMITHFIELD (7-8, 5-4 Bay Rivers): Coach Jonathan Penn said he has been impressed with the Packers' effort and sees a ``drastic'' improvement over last year's team, which went 2-12 in the district.
Losing leading scorer Carlos Parker (15.4 points per game), who suffered a cracked rib against Franklin, for three district games last week was costly. Smithfield lost all three before beating York and Poquoson with Parker back in the lineup.
Free throw shooting has hurt the Packers, who shot 8-for-20 in a three-point loss to Surry and were under 50 percent again in a 68-63 loss to Bruton.
Andre Thompson, who returned after two years in New Jersey, has averaged 14 points and nearly eight rebounds per game.
WINDSOR (10-4, 4-0 Tri-Rivers): The Dukes, who have won 10 of their last 11, are atop the Tri-Rivers standings thanks to balanced scoring. Four players - brothers Jerome and Isaac Ricks, Cory Liggins and Wayne Briggs - average more than 11 points per game.
``(Other teams) can't prepare for just one or two people,'' said coach Steve Edwards, adding that his team has matured since last season. ``Last year, we probably would have lost a few of the tight games. We'd get big leads and let teams come back.''
Jerome Ricks leads Windsor with nearly 24 points per game, while Liggins has added 11 rebounds.
ISLE OF WIGHT (15-4, 6-2 Virginia Commonwealth Conference): The Chargers have surpassed last year's win total (12) and are ranked No. 7 in the Virginia Independent Schools Div. II poll.
Depth and experience have been the difference. Isle of Wight has five seniors and plays nine players.
Richard Spady leads the Chargers with 15.6 points and 5.7 assists per game, while Dwayne Hall has added 9.2 points.
SOUTHAMPTON ACADEMY (2-11 overall, 1-6 VCC): Raiders coach Dale Marks expected six or seven wins at this point in the season, but he said the Raiders have had a hard time scoring.
``Our defense hasn't been that bad,'' Marks said, ``but we're just not making the shots.''
Michael Beale (12.9) is the only Raider averaging more than 10 points per game. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Sidney Gainey, one of Franklin's leading scorers, snares the ball.
by CNB