THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 25, 1996 TAG: 9602220132
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: CAMDEN LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Early last week, the Camden County boys basketball team was mired in a slump so bad that it would make any head coach ready to throw in the towel.
Much to the Bruins' credit, they have continued to play hard-nosed ball and have given a few teams a scare despite not having won a game since opening night.
The problem is, Camden plays good for three quarters, then somehow falls apart.
During a loss to Perquimans County, for example, Camden played the Pirates tight until the fourth quarter - when Perquimans used a half-court trap and sent a parade of shooters to the free throw line to ice the Bruins 58-48.
Camden kept the game close until the middle of the fourth quarter, when it seemed like somebody put a lid on the Bruins' basket.
The Perquimans strategy made the Camden offense work hard, and the Bruins could hit nothing.
On the other end, the Pirates kept getting fouled and kept sinking free throws.
With the game tied at 42, Odell White scored on a scoop shot and Tykinsten Wood followed with a layup to give the Pirates a 46-42 lead with 5:08 to play.
The Pirates then scored the next six points of the game on free throws to knock the lead up to 52-42 with 2:29 to play.
``To fall apart like that is a lack of concentration,'' said Mark Harnly, first-year coach at Camden.
``We're a three quarter team right now. We're still putting in the effort.
``Every night for 32 minutes we play hard,'' he said.
``We looked as good as we've looked the last three games. We're growing up as a team.''
In the previous three games, Camden lost to conference leader Williamston by 10 after leading; the Bruins lost a 54-47 decision to Northampton West; and in a recent matchup with Gates County, Camden trailed by 19 points with four minutes to play and ended up losing 59-57.
``We've got a real young team,'' Harnly said.
``Sixty percent of our scoring comes from freshmen and sophomores. Our point guard, James Walker, played at the middle school last year. Our future's looking bright.'' by CNB