THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210569
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
Kempsville survived a fourth-quarter scare and held on for a 52-41 victory over Princess Anne in Tuesday's Beach District girls basketball playoff at Tallwood.
The Chiefs (21-2) and Cavaliers (19-4) had tied for the regular-season championship and needed a playoff to decide the top seed in the district tournament and the district's automatic Eastern Region berth.
The win gives the Chiefs a chance to relax in the district tournament, which begins today at the sites of the higher seeds. Kempsville will host No. 8 Kellam and Princess Anne hosts No. 7 First Colonial. All games begin at 5:45 p.m.
``This gives us a little more momentum,'' said Kempsville forward Toni Patillo, whose team will play its third game in three days. ``We got another win and the region berth. We did what we had to do.''
The top-ranked Chiefs, who have handed Princess Anne all of its defeats, spread the court after taking a 39-27 lead going into the final quarter. But the No. 2 Cavaliers, who fell victim to the same play Monday night in the league's final regular-season game, would not fall for it again.
``It was the same situation as (Monday) night,'' Kempsville coach Greg Dunn said. ``We were getting in foul trouble and we were showing signs of fatigue. And so were they. It's more tiring to play defense than offense so I went ahead and pulled it out.''
The Cavaliers' tenacious defense then forced seven Kempsville turnovers and held the Chiefs scoreless for 4:03. Meanwhile, Princess Anne trimmed Kempsville's lead to 39-32 behind baskets from Rasheda Rogers and Daminica Taylor and an O'Keisha Howard free throw.
Kempsville finally scored when Kristin Cholewa converted a back-door layup. And once the Chiefs revived their offense, the defense went to work.
The press caused the Cavaliers to turn the ball over and foul.
Kempsville went on to make 7 of 8 free throws in the final 3:12. The Chiefs also converted two fastbreaks by Charlette Fayton and Patillo to ice the game.
``We went man-to-man full court because we thought they'd be tired,'' Princess Anne coach Darnell Dozier said. ``We were tired. But the bottom line is, our shots just weren't falling. And we're still a little shorthanded.''
The Cavaliers were without center Sherry Whetsel, who is out with the flu, for the second night and fell short in their inside game.
Kempsville took advantage for a 30-21 rebounding edge.
Both teams struggled from the floor in the first half, each shooting 16 percent. Kempsville managed to take a 7-6 first-quarter lead while making only 2 of 14 shots from the field. Princess Anne was only one basket better, connecting on 3 of 15.
Neither team was much more productive from the floor in the second quarter, but the Chiefs pulled off a 15-7 run by sinking 8 of 10 free throws. Erin Duckett found Cholewa and Melissa Kristofak underneath the basket and then hit a 3-pointer to spark the Chiefs. Duckett and Fayton each finished with 12 points and Cholewa chipped in 11.
In the third, Princess Anne and Kempsville traded baskets to start the quarter. However, turnovers and fouls kept the Cavaliers at bay as the Chiefs squeaked by, 17-14.
``Everybody had their spurts,'' Patillo said. ``Everybody had their breakdowns. It was a fast-paced game.''
Howard led Princess Anne with 12 points, Rogers had 10, and Moody chipped in six points and nine rebounds. by CNB