THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996 TAG: 9602160218
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 29 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
A NOTE TO Bay Rivers District boys basketball teams: Don't think for a second that Nansemond River plans to relax during this week's district tournament; even though the Warriors already qualified for the Region I tournament with a 95-52 rout of Poquoson on Tuesday to clinch the regular season title.
``I let the kids know that this is a time to retool and tune it up,'' said Nansemond River coach Spencer Mayfield, whose team has won three straight and four of the last five regular season district titles. ``You don't ever turn your back on this district. Any coach in his right mind wouldn't look past (the district tournament).''
The top two finishers in the district tournament, besides Nansemond River, will join the Warriors at the regional. The Bay Rivers tournament starts Tuesday at 7 p.m. with the top four seeds hosting a game. The highest remaining seed will then host the semifinals Thursday beginning at 6:30 and the championship Friday at 8 p.m.
Nansemond River (17-2 overall, 13-0 Bay Rivers before Friday's game at Southampton) has won 15 straight games and will host No. 8 Poquoson (1-18, 0-12) in the opening round. If the Warriors win, the semifinals and finals will be held at Nansemond River. The other seeds were determined in games Thursday and Friday.
District coaches agreed that there are no clear challengers to Nansemond River. ``All the teams can beat you,'' Lakeland coach John Fuller said. ``Tournament time is the second season. Any team could get hot at the end of the season and make a run to get into the region.''
If the Cavaliers (11-7, 9-3) are to be one of the teams to get hot, they may have to do it without guard Brian Baker, who suffered a bruised hip in last week's game against Nansemond River. Baker, who scores more than 13 points per game, was scheduled to visit the doctor Thursday.
``That hurts us,'' Fuller said. ``It takes away our primary outside shooter and our primary ballhandler.''
Fuller added that the Cavaliers, who played four games in five days last week, will need the three days off before the district tournament starts. ``We need to get some rest,'' he said. ``That's going to be it. If we get some rest I think we'll be fine.''
Southampton (12-6, 8-4), winner of three of its last four before playing York on Thursday, and Smithfield (8-11, 6-7) are teams that could challenge Lakeland for a spot in the regional tournament.
Coach Jonathan Penn said the Packers, who had lost six of their last nine before playing Bruton on Friday, will need to improve their shooting in the tournament.
``Our shooting has been on and off,'' said Penn, whose team won just two district games last season. ``One game we'll shoot well and the next game we can't hit the ocean.''
The Region I tournament starts Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Greensville County High in Emporia at 7 p.m. The semifinals are Friday, March 1, while the championship is March 2. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Lakeland's Herman Knight chases the ball down court in the Tuesday
night game against Southampton.
by CNB