THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 8, 1996 TAG: 9602070122
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: Jami Frankenberry
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Lee Everett, a 15-year-old freshman at Smithfield High, will represent Virginia in fencing at the National Junior Olympic Championships in Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 16-19.
Everett will compete in the Under 15 and Under 17 foil competitions. He qualified by winning the gold medal in the Under 15 and taking the bronze in Under 17 at the state tournament in Richmond last month.
It was Everett's third state tournament. He qualified for the Junior Olympics last year but chose not to compete because they were held in San Jose, Calif. Two years ago, Everett placed 34th out of more than 100 competitors in the Under 13 division of the Junior Olympics in Little Rock, Ark.
``I think I'll do pretty good, especially in Under 15,'' Everett said. ``I did pretty good the first time I went, but I won't be as nervous.''
Everett, who began fencing in 1992, is a member of the Tidewater Fencing Club and practices three or four times a week.
VALENTINE NOMINATED: Nansemond River High senior Montoria Valentine is one of 1,500 players in the nation nominated for the 1996 McDonald's All-American basketball team.
Twenty players from those nominated by the team's selection committee are chosen to participate in the McDonald's All-America basketball game, which will be held March 31 at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. The game will be televised on CBS. Selections will be announced near the end of February.
Valentine averages 14.9 points and more than 15 rebounds per game for the 13-2 Warriors, the defending Group AA champions.
1,000 POINT CLUB: Two area boys basketball players are close to scoring the 1,000th point of their careers.
Shawn Tann of Southampton had 968 points before Tuesday's scheduled game against York. The senior averages 18.6 points per game.
Franklin's Sidney Gainey had 944 points before Tuesday's game against Smithfield. Gainey scores 19.9 points per game.
SNOW WOES: Last week's winter storm has left area athletic directors scrambling to get games scheduled before postseason tournaments begin.
``We're trying our best to get everything in before those tournaments start, but there just aren't many openings,'' said Nansemond River athletic director Phil Braswell, adding that most schools had finally caught up after the blizzard a few weeks ago.
Nansemond River and Lakeland each missed two basketball games, including their game against each other.
Nansemond River is scheduled to host three tournaments (Bay Rivers District volleyball and boys basketball and regional volleyball) in nine days beginning Feb. 15. No games had been rescheduled as of Tuesday morning. by CNB