THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 14, 1996 TAG: 9603130218
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 134 lines
NANSEMOND RIVER'S Antoine Willie made a habit of scoring at will in most of his games against Bay Rivers District teams this year. The junior guard averaged nearly 26 points per game in helping the Warriors to a 14-0 regular season district record and its second straight Bay Rivers tournament title.
But in the past two weeks, Willie has proven his scoring ability is not limited to the regular season against Bay Rivers opponents. The 6-foot-1 Willie has averaged more than 33 points per game in his last three games, two Region I tournament games and a state quarterfinal.
``I just turn it up a notch each level,'' said Willie, who scored 37 points, 20 in the second half, in a 72-65 state quarterfinal win Saturday against Caroline. ``When the regular season is over, I turn it up for the region. When regions are over, I turn it up some more. I'm not saying I didn't play hard during the regular season, but come post-season you get hype and step up your game.''
This is the second straight year in which Willie has stepped up his game during the post-season.
Last year, Willie scored 91 points in three state playoff games to break the record for points in the tournament and give the Warriors a state championship. Willie's performance broke the record of 83 points, held by Brunswick's Bryant Stith, who went on to be a standout at the University of Virginia, and Northside's Walt Derey.
``He did everything against everybody last year,'' said Northside coach Bill Pope, whose team lost 84-57 in last year's state final. ``He can spot up and shoot the jumper. He's got range and size. He's quite a good ballplayer.''
Willie, last year's Virginia Group AA player of the year, will be back in the state semifinals Friday at 1 p.m., when the Warriors (24-2) face Liberty at Liberty University's Vines Center in Lynchburg. Lakeland plays Northside in the other semifinal at 2:30 p.m. The winners meet Saturday at 2:45 p.m. for the championship.
``The playoffs are something that excite the kid,'' said Nansemond River coach Spencer Mayfield in trying to explain Willie's post-season performance. ``He had a very good season, but very good isn't good enough for him (in the playoffs).''
Willie's scoring was down three points this season, which he attributes to his becoming a better all-around player.
``I've stepped up my game in everything,'' said Willie, who averages more than four rebounds and assists and five steals per game. ``And (this year) I try to rely on my defense more.''
Willie's scoring also has fallen because of teammate Montoria Valentine's terrific play. Valentine, a 6-3 senior forward, averages close to 20 points and 17 rebounds per game and earned Bay Rivers and Region I player of the year honors, awards that Willie won last season.
``It's not that Antoine got worse, it's that Montoria got better,'' Mayfield said.
Willie said he had no problem with letting Valentine share his spotlight this season.
``I can't get mad at him. I don't think like that,'' Willie said. ``He's a good ballplayer. I would've liked to win those, but you can't win everything. I just congratulate him, it's not a big deal at all.''
What's more important, according to Willie, is that the Warriors win their second straight Group AA title.
``We've been saying all season, we got to make it back (to the championship), and it came so quick,'' Willie said. ``We're here again to win it. Every game you play, the teams get better and better. We'll just have to play harder, play Nansemond River ball.''
And so far, ``Nansemond River ball'' has been pretty impressive. MEMO: THE TEAMS AT A GLANCE
Nansemond River will continue its Group AA boys basketball title
defense with a 1 p.m. state semifinal game Friday against Liberty at
Liberty University's Vines Center in Lynchburg. The Warriors beat
Liberty 78-68 in a state semifinal last year.
Here's a look at each team:
NANSEMOND RIVER
Location: Suffolk
Nickname: Warriors
District: Bay Rivers (Regular season and tournament champion)
Coach: Spencer Mayfield
Record: 24-2
How qualified: Beat Caroline 72-65
Probable starters: Maurice Fofana (6-foot senior guard, 10.5 ppg);
Antoine Willie (6-1 junior guard, 25.7 ppg); Montoria Valentine (6-3
senior forward, 19.6); Anthony Jones (6-4 sophomore forward, 8.2 ppg);
LaShaun Pugh (6-5 senior center, 10.4 ppg).
Last year: Won Group AA state championship
Other players:
Alonzo Bowden (5-11 Soph. G-F)
Leroy Skinner (5-7 Jr. G)
Maurice Riddick (6-1 Soph. G)
Vernon Woodson (6-0 Fr. G-F)
Terrance Wilson (6-4 Soph. F)
Randell White (6-4 Sr. F)
Karron Riddick (5-11 Sr. G)
James Richardson (6-2 Jr. F)
Tremayne Bunch (6-11 Fr. C)
Chris White (6-2 Sr. C-F)
Keys to the game: The only fault in the Warriors' game of late has
been foul shooting. They made just 11 of 22 free throws in a 72-65
quarterfinal win over Caroline. Nansemond River must improve upon that.
Scoring hasn't been a problem, especially for Willie, who has scored
more than 33 points per game in his last three. He'll need help from
Pugh and Valentine inside. Rebounding has been important for the
Warriors, who have won 22 straight games. They outrebounded Caroline
50-25.
LIBERTY
Location: Bedford
Nickname: Minutemen
District: Seminole (regular season and tournament champion)
Coach: Mark Hanks
Record: 23-0
How qualified: Beat Gate City 65-61 (OT)
Probable starters: Robert Carson (6-0 sophomore guard, 11.0 ppg);
Gregg Reynolds (5-9 senior guard, 8.5 ppg); J.J. Coles (5-10 senior
guard, 15.2 ppg); Raymond Arrington (6-3 sophomore forward, 15.0 ppg);
Neil Roop (6-2 senior forward, 9.0 ppg).
Last year: Lost in Group AA semifinal to Nansemond River
Keys to the game: Hanks said the Minutemen will have to handle
Nansemond River's pressure defense and find a way to keep the Warriors
off the boards, which no team has had success doing this season. Liberty
will also have to stop Willie. ``We have to find him and find him
early,'' Hanks said. ``It's easy to lose a kid like that. If you're not
there when the ball's there, you're in trouble.''
Jami Frankenberry
ILLUSTRATION: VIRGINIA GROUP AA STATE SEMIFINALS
File photo by TAMARA VONINSKI
Nansemond River's Antoine Willie plans to turn up the heat against
Liberty on Friday.
by CNB