THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603080231
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
INDIAN RIVER POINT guard Terry Rouse is comfortable being the Braves' behind-the-scenes man.
Until the postseason.
That's when he turns into Mr. March.
The 6-foot-7 senior has a knack for stepping up his performance in the big games and he's doing it again this year as Indian River begins its quest for the Group AAA boys basketball state title.
``I'm a post-season player,'' Rouse said while preparing for Saturday night's Group AAA quarterfinal game with Douglas Freeman at the Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond. ``It's just something about the tournament. I think I was trying to do too much in the regular season. I just relax in the tournament. Everything is action. You can't think about what you're going to do.''
Rouse, who averaged 9.3 points per game in the regular season, has upped his average to 10.3 with 62 points in six playoff games. He's grabbed 34 rebounds - including 10 against Churchland in the Southeastern District tournament semifinal - and has collected 14 assists, 12 steals and four blocked shots.
He did the same thing last year. Rouse scored double figures in five of eight playoff games for a 12-point post season average before Indian River fell to Potomac in the state semifinals.
``He knows he has to come through and make the shots he's supposed to,'' Braves' coach Freddie Spellman said. ``He did it last year as a junior and now he's doing it again.
``In my opinion, he's the leader of the team even though he's taken the back seat. He does a lot. He is a very valuable part of the team.''
When Rouse first came to Indian River, he was in line to become one of the Braves' next stars. Instead, he says, he struggled.
``It's been hard,'' Rouse said. ``Everyone expected me to shine. I've had problems with my shooting and not following through. I've been forcing the offense. But it's all coming together. I'm using the playoffs as a second season.''
And Rouse, who says he hates to lose more than anyone, knows that it's now or never. One loss could end his career.
``We're going to have to play it smart and work hard on defense,'' said Rouse, who is undecided about his college plans. ``I'm going to have to do other things besides score. We're just going to have to let things come to us.''
But usually when the Braves are at their best, it's Rouse bringing the ball to them.
``People don't look at all Terry does,'' Spellman said. ``They don't look at the steals or the tipped passes that turn into points.''
Spellman added that Rouse is one of his team's best defenders and usually has the task of guarding the opponent's top scorer. His lanky frame, Spellman said, has worked to Indian River's advantage. Though he's usually guarding a smaller, quicker guard, they have trouble passing around him.
``He creates a lot of offensive problems for other teams,'' Spellman said.
But on the other side of the ball, Rouse is a big plus.
``A lot of people are collapsing on Jason (Capel) now,'' Spellman said of Indian River's big man. ``But it's opening up the shots for Terry. A lot of teams would love to have a point guard that can shot like him.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN
Terry Rouse steps up his game after the regular season ends.
by CNB