THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 8, 1996 TAG: 9603070174
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
IN AN EFFORT to improve their teams' chances in the Group AAA state quarterfinals, Larry Bowman of Salem and Greg Dunn of Kempsville traveled to Richmond to scout the Central Region championship.
Funny thing is, they scouted the wrong teams.
The title game was between Clover Hill and James River. James River had beaten Clover Hill twice during the season, both times by double-figure margins. So naturally, since Salem is the Eastern Region champion and will host the state quarterfinal Saturday at Churchland, Bowman's Sun Devils figured to be playing Clover Hill.
And accordingly, Dunn thought it was a gimme that his Chiefs would be traveling to Richmond to face James River.
Wrong!
Clover Hill upset James River by one point.
``We looked at each other,'' Dunn said, ``and Larry says, `So, you want to trade notes?' It was a close game, but everything I was watching was James River. He was paying attention to Clover Hill.''
Added Bowman: ``Everybody around us got a big laugh out of it. (Dunn) did some great scouting for me. I hope I did the same for him.''
The change in matchups is likely more to Bowman's advantage than Dunn's - although he will undoubtedly go up against the more difficult opponent.
Salem faced several James River players two years ago in a state quarterfinal when the Sun Devils beat Midlothian en route to a state championship.
``I definitely think we got the toughest draw, because James River is still the best (of the two) teams,'' Bowman said. ``But then again, they play a lot like Kempsville - full-court, man-to-man - and that's good, because we know what to expect.''
And how to play against it, as the Sun Devils dealt the Chiefs all three of their losses.
Salem will also see an opponent they saw in that victory over Midlothian - all-state guard Katie Tracy.
Tracy likely will be guarded by, and guard, Misty Colebank - last year's All-Tidewater player of the year and a leading candidate for this year's honor.
``It should be a great matchup,'' Bowman said. ``I'm sure they're both looking forward to it.''
Kempsville will face a team that likes to sit back in a zone defense - something the Chiefs rarely see.
``They have a good starting five,'' Dunn said. ``And their leading scorer is a freshman.
``But what concerns me most is that they're a team on a roll. They perform well under pressure and they have some great foul shooting.''
Kempsville vows not to change anything despite the difference in Clover Hill's style. The Chiefs will still pick up the opponents at half court and apply man-to-man pressure from there on out.
``We're used to some good competition in the Beach District,'' Dunn said. ``And I think that will help us. I think Toni (Patillo) and Erin (Duckett) will match up well with their guards.
``Hopefully for us, they won't be as hot as they were last Saturday.''
Kempsville will play Clover Hill at 6:30 p.m. in Richmond's Arthur Ashe Center. Salem hosts James River at 6 p.m. at Churchland. ILLUSTRATION: HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Salem's Antonieta Gabriel drives past Kempsville's pressure defense
during Friday's region title victory.
Staff photos by JIM WALKER
Kempsville's Charlette Fayton finds a sizable barrier to the basket
in Salem's Jenny Harmon during last Friday's Eastern Region
championship game. Salem defeated Kempsville for the third time this
season, 58-43, but both teams advanced to the state quarterfinals.
by CNB