THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603010213
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
AREA TEAMS dominated Bay Rivers District honors for boys basketball, earning eight of ten spots on the first two teams last week.
Nansemond River senior Montoria Valentine was named the district's player of the year, while Warriors coach Spencer Mayfield earned his second straight coach of the year award.
Joining Valentine on the first team were seniors Antoine Willie of Nansemond River, Southampton's Shawn Tann, Sidney Gainey of Franklin and junior Damon Tillery of Lakeland.
Valentine led the district in rebounding for the second straight season with 16 per game. He also averages 19.4 points, seven assists, four steals and four blocked shots for a Warriors team that was 21-2 and playing in a Group AA, Region I semifinal against Southampton Friday.
``He's one of the toughest competitors I've coached against in six years of being in the district,'' Southampton coach Randy Jessee said of Valentine, who has more than 1,000 points and 1,100 rebounds in his career. ``He's relentless as a rebounder. Every ball that goes up on the boards, he wants to get a piece of. We talk to our players all the time about the level and fight he has in him.''
Wille led the Bay Rivers in scoring for the second straight season. He scores 25.3 points per game, and adds four rebounds, four assists and five steals.
``He developed into an all-around ballplayer this year - rebounding, scoring, ballhandling and defense,'' Mayfield said. ``Compared to last year, he picked up everything.''
Tann, who went over 1,000 points for his career earlier this season, averages 20.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game for the Indians. He also shoots better than 50 percent from three-point range and hits 84 percent of his free throws.
Tillery led the Cavaliers, who played in a region semifinal Friday against Greensville County, in scoring during the regular season with more than 16 points per game, while Gainey scored 18 points a game for the Broncos.
Seniors Brian Baker and John Ricks of Lakeland and Nansemond River's LaShaun Pugh joined juniors Jay Louden (Bruton) and Tommy Klump (York) on the All-Bay Rivers second team.
The third team included: Maurice Fofana (Nansemond River), Amon Cross (Lakeland), Greg Scott (Southampton), Andre Thompson (Smithfield), Brian Spearman (Bruton), Mike Christian (York), Carlandous Banks (Franklin) and James Warren (Poquoson). ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Nansemond River's Montoria Valentine, left, prepares to shoot while
John Ricks of Lakeland comes from behind to block the shot during
the Bay Rivers district tournament finals.
Photos
Nansemond River's Antoine Willie
Southampton's Shawn Tann
Franklin's Sidney Gainey
Lakeland's Damon Tillery
by CNB