THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602240473
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Adding the Southeastern District tournament crown to its regular-season title, the Indian River boys basketball team will carry a 17-game winning streak into next week's Eastern Regional.
``Those wins just got us where we wanted to be,'' said Indian River coach Freddie Spellman after his Braves defeated Deep Creek in Friday's Southeastern tourney finale at Oscar Smith 70-51. ``Now we start all over, just like a brand new season.''
Junior guard David Selby sparked Indian River to its 21st victory in 24 outings, registering a game-high 26 points and earning himself the tourney's most valuable player award. He had 65 points in Indian River's three victories.
The 19-point final margin wasn't indicative of the way most of the game went. Deep Creek led the first quarter by two, 15-13, and the teams were tied at 29 at halftime.
Indian River went two up after three periods, 44-42. A six-point lead was the widest margin in the first three quarters and Deep Creek had that advantage at 42-36.
But Indian River ran off nine unanswered points to start the closing period, forcing Deep Creek into a fouling game in an effort to catch up. The Braves connected on 10 of 15 free throws to zip away. Selby had 12 points in the period, Deep Creek (15-7) had only nine.
The pattern was similar to two regular-season losses to Indian River, in both of which the Hornets led after three periods. Deep Creek, which had a seven-game winning streak snapped, was hampered by three early fouls on Chad Sorrell, who opened the game with a hot hand. He made Deep Creek's first eight points on a pair of 3-pointers and a layup.
After the third foul, Sorrell was held out until 2:07 remained in the third quarter. He fouled out in the fourth, with only his opening eight points. Arnie Powell topped the Hornets with 17 points. Antonio Rhodes and Greg Bluford both added 10.
Jason Capel finished with 18 for Indian River, getting nine in the fourth-quarter run.
In addition to Selby, the all-tournament team included Capel, Powell, Great Bridge's Steve Hargrove and Oscar Smith's Lavar Griffin.
Indian River will play the No. 2 Peninsula seed, Phoebus, in the first round of the regional. Deep Creek will play Peninsula regular-season champ Menchville. by CNB