THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 8, 1996 TAG: 9603070150
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Usually all-district teams are senior dominated and the honorees are on their way into the college ranks.
But seven of the 10 players selected by the coaches on the All-Southeastern District squad for 1995-96 will be playing high school basketball again next season.
In fact, the most valuable player award for the current season goes to a sophomore - Indian River's Jason Capel.
The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Capel led the district in scoring with a 21.2 average, sparking the Braves to both the regular season and tournament titles.
Capel averaged 12.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
The all-district first team also includes Indian River's David Selby, Churchland's Jason Lewis, Wilson's Perez Bottoms and Deep Creek's Arnie Powell. Bottoms and Lewis are seniors. Selby and Powell are juniors.
The lone senior on the second unit is Oscar Smith's Jamar Lewis. The No. 2 team also includes four juniors - Javon Artis of Deep Creek, Steve Hargrove of Great Bridge, Lavar Griffin of Oscar Smith and James Boyd of Indian River.
The first team has a scoring average of 83.8 points. Bottoms was runner-up to Capel in the district with a 20.3 average. Lewis tied for fourth at 16.0. Powell was eighth at 13.8. Selby, who was chosen as the outstanding player in the district tournament, finished 10th at 13.0.
In leading Indian River to a runner-up finish in the Eastern Region behind Peninsula District champion Menchville, Capel sparked the Braves to an overall 22-4 record and into the state tournament. His scoring blossomed out while he still contributed outstanding rebounding and defensive play.
As a freshman starter last year when Indian River won the regional, Capel averaged only 9.9 points.
``I would have to say Jason is the best all-around player in the Tidewater area,'' said Indian River coach Freddie Spellman. ``He can play all five positions and has exceptional talent.''
Selby, a 5-11, 160-pounder, was a two-way starter on Indian River's Division 6 state championship football team as a cornerback and receiver. He was the triggerman for the basketball team at point guard.
``He averaged about four steals per game and turned a lot of them into baskets,'' said Spellman. ``He's a hard player to defend against, too, and opponents find it hard to judge just how high he can jump.''
The 6-1, 160-pound Bottoms bypassed indoor track this year to concentrate on basketball. He is among the district's top cross-country runners and was third in the outdoor district meet in the 800-meter run.
Wilson coach Terence Green says he's hoping colleges will take a good look at Bottoms as a basketball player ``because he can play college basketball.''
Lewis had a 50 per cent shooting mark from the field and averaged 8.7 rebounds. ``He accounted for 30 per cent of our rebounds,'' pointed out Churchland coach Mac Carroll.
Don't measure Powell by statistics, says Deep Creek coach Benny Polk. ``He's a warrior who gives 100 per cent effort every game and he just wants to win. The past season he became much better at finishing his shots around the basket,'' said Polk.
There were no repeaters on the first team. Bottoms and Selby were second-team choices last year.
The second unit has one holdover - Artis. Artis averaged 13.8 points.
``He's a very good shooter and can fill up the basket as well as anybody,'' said Polk.
Hargrove was third in the district in scoring with a 17.3 average. Both Lewis and Griffin had 16 point averages. Boyd had an 11.3 average and is regarded as the best defensive player on the Indian River team by Spellman.
Oscar Smith's Sandy Williams, who piloted the Tigers to a 10-4 district mark and a third-place finish in the league, was picked as coach of the year. ILLUSTRATION: Arnie Powell
Perez Bottoms
Jason Lewis
Jason Capel of Indian River goes up for a shot in the state
semifinals.
Staff photos by TAMARA VONINSKI
David Selby of Indian River dribbles past a defender.
ALL-STAR TEAM
[For a copy of the roster, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB