THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996 TAG: 9602160187
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 35 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Only one thing is for certain in the Southeastern District girls basketball race: Churchland has clinched the league's regular-season title and its top seed for the region tournament in the Truckers' farewell season in the district.
Everything else, however, is up in the air.
At press time, Western Branch and Great Bridge were tied for second place and defending tournament winner Oscar Smith - in a matter of two games - has dropped to fourth.
Great Bridge's Friday night game at Indian River was to be the deciding factor. And despite the Braves' 4-8 district record with two games to go, the Wildcats weren't in for a free ride.
Indian River was the only Southeastern District team - and only the second team in the area - that has managed to beat the Truckers.
``They're a darkhorse candidate,'' Churchland coach Duke Conrad said. ``Whoever has to play them better be careful. They're athletic and one of the biggest teams in the area.''
Should the Wildcats win, they would remain tied with Western Branch. A loss would mean a tie with Oscar Smith for third.
Since Great Bridge has split with Western Branch and Oscar Smith, tournament standings will be decided with a coin flip rather than by head-to-head competition.
As for the Truckers, they're eyeing their first tournament crown since 1992.
``Obviously, we wanted to go out with a district championship,'' said Conrad, whose team will join the Eastern District next season. ``Now it means we have the opportunity to double up. It would also give us 20 wins. Those were some of our goals at the beginning of the season.''
Conrad said his team isn't thinking about its past two trips to the tournament when it was knocked out in the early rounds by Deep Creek in 1993 and Oscar Smith last season. Nor are the Truckers worrying about having to beat whomever they face for the third time this year.
``The only reason it's hard to beat a team three times is the mental factor,'' he said. ``That's not going to work against us because we have something specific in mind. That's to get to that 20 win plateau.
``We should win it flat out. If you win the district, you should win the tournament.''
Oscar Smith coach Patty Walsh sees it differently. The Tigers have battled through the ranks to earn the league's second berth in the region tournament by knocking off the top teams for three straight years.
``It's always tough when you get the No. 4, 5 or 6 position,'' Walsh said. ``But tournament time means a new season.
``Each year we've knocked off the top teams, but it gets tougher and tougher. There's more pressure this year because my kids are younger. The ability is there, but it's a matter of putting it all together.''
The tournament gets under way Monday at the site of the higher seed. Action continues Wednesday and Friday at Oscar Smith. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Kim Elliott of Churchland goes for the hoop. The team has clinched
the league's regular-season title and its top seed for the region
tournament in the Truckers' farewell season in the Southeastern
District.
by CNB