THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 14, 1996 TAG: 9603130220
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
JOHN RICKS admits that scoring isn't his job for the Lakeland boys basketball team. Ricks is relied upon for his defense and rebounding. And defense is what Ricks thrives on.
``I love playing defense,'' said Ricks, a 6-foot-7 senior center. ``Throwing people's shot gets the crowd into it, and gets my teammates hype. Stopping people from scoring. That's my best quality for the team.''
Lately, however, Ricks has added another quality to the Cavaliers - scoring. In two Region I playoff games and a state quarterfinal Saturday, Ricks averaged 18.7 points and was instrumental in giving Lakeland its first boys basketball state tournament appearance.
The Cavaliers (18-9) will play Northside (17-8) at 2:30 p.m. at Liberty University's Vines Center in Lynchburg. Nansemond River faces Liberty in the other semifinal at 1 p.m. The winners meet Saturday at 2:45 p.m. for the Group AA championship.
``It's like a spurt, I guess,'' Ricks said of his recent scoring outburst. ``I feel I always had it, I just didn't apply myself to scoring because I always had Damon (Tillery) there to score.''
But the Cavaliers needed someone to help Tillery, who averages 17 points per game, carry the scoring load in the post-season. Ricks, who scored 11 points per game during the regular season, said he knew it was up to him.
``I know it's play time,'' said Ricks, who has drawn recruiting interest from Virginia State and Hampton University. ``You lose, you go home. I didn't have any other choice but to play.''
A region semifinal game against Greensville County convinced Ricks he needed to play better.
``I fouled out of that game and was walking off the court and Damon said, `We're not going to lose this game,' '' said Ricks, whose teammates held on for a 65-61 upset of the previously unbeaten Eagles. ``I said to myself, `It's not going to come down to this again.' ''
Ricks' defense and rebounding hasn't disappeared with his newfound scoring ability. In a state quarterfinal win over Fort Defiance Saturday, Ricks had 16 rebounds and 12 blocks to go along with his 22 points. In a losing effort against Nansemond River in the Region I final, Ricks added 14 rebounds and 10 blocks to his 24 points.
``I think it has a lot to do with maturity and coming of age,'' Lakeland coach John Fuller said. ``He just matured a lot (this year). He's self-motivated right now. This is the only chance he'll ever have to win a state championship.''
Ricks said he'll have to continue his solid play in order for the Cavaliers to make it to the state championship.
``There's no need to stop playing now,'' he said. ``We've already made history for Lakeland. We've gotten this far. No need to make silly mistakes.''
Winning a state championship, however, could mean another game against Nansemond River, which has beaten Lakeland five times this season.
``It's on our minds,'' said Ricks of meeting the Warriors for a sixth time. ``People in the public are saying, `Well, at least y'all will get runner-up.' You just have to block that out of your mind and play basketball. It's already been a long, tough season.'' MEMO: THE TEAMS AT A GLANCE
The Lakeland boys basketball team will try to make its best season
even better when they meet Northside in a Group AA boys semifinal at
2:30 p.m. at Liberty University's Vines Center in Lynchburg. The
Cavaliers are making their first boys basketball state tournament
appearance.
Here is a look at each team:
LAKELAND
Location: Suffolk
Nickname: Cavaliers
District: Bay Rivers (regular season and tournament runner-up)
Coach: John Fuller
Record: 18-9
How qualified: Beat Fort Defiance 74-72
Probable starters: James Pruden (6-0 senior guard, 3.5 ppg); Brian
Baker (5-10 senior guard, 12.6 ppg); Damon Tillery (6-4 junior forward,
17.0 ppg); Herman Knight (6-3 sophomore forward, 4.9 ppg); John Ricks
(6-7 senior center, 11.0 ppg).
Last year: Lost in a regional semifinal
Other players:
James Hicks (5-8 Fr. G)
Warrenton Wilson (5-10 Fr. G)
Abdullah Johnson (6-1 Soph. F)
Jared Kiesow (6-0 Sr. G)
Amon Cross (5-11 Sr. G)
Sam Dunn (6-1 Soph. F)
Darnell Walden (5-10 Fr. G)
Vondell White (6-3 Fr. F)
Clyde Barden (6-6 Fr. C)
Aubrey Everett (6-2 Soph. F)
Keys to the game: The starters must stay out of foul trouble,
especially Ricks. The Cavaliers also can't afford a letdown early in the
game. In two late-season losses to Nansemond River, Lakeland fell behind
early and never recovered. Ricks needs to have another solid offensive
game and the guards, including Cross, who averages nearly 10 points per
game off the bench, will have to shoot well for the upstart Cavaliers to
continue their surprising run.
NORTHSIDE
Location: Roanoke
Nickname: Vikings
District: Blue Ridge (regular season champions, tournament
runner-up)
Coach: Bill Pope
Record: 17-8
How qualified: Beat Virginia 68-39
Probable starters: Ben Peete (5-10 senior guard, 15.0 ppg); Justin
Porterfield (5-11 senior guard, 14.5 ppg); Spence Peters (5-9 senior
guard, 7.2 ppg); Adam Wimmer (6-2 senior forward, 7.8 ppg); Adam Gray
(6-1 senior forward, 6.1 ppg).
Last year: Lost in state championship against Nansemond River
Keys to the game: ``We have to play our game as much as possible -
handle the ball and shoot well (from outside),'' Pope said. ``That's a
key for any team in the final four.'' Pope said the Vikings will also
have to figure out how to defend Ricks and Tillery, who are much bigger
than any of Northside's starting five.
Jami Frankenberry
ILLUSTRATION: VIRGINIA GROUP AA STATE SEMIFINALS
Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Lakeland's John Ricks, right, soars over an opponent to block a shot
in a recent game before Lakeland headed to the state semifinals.
by CNB