THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603170223
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
For three weeks, the Lakeland boys basketball team played the role of giant-killer in the postseason, knocking off one previously unbeaten team and another that was ranked all season in the state's top 10.
Saturday afternoon, the Cavaliers came back down to earth, falling to unbeaten Liberty 53-50 in the Group AA state final.
With five seconds left, Lakeland's Brian Baker took an inbounds pass and dribbled the length of the court before launching a 3-point attempt that bounced off the front of the rim, ending Lakeland's remarkable run at the title.
Trailing 47-37 with 5:11 left, the Cavaliers went on a 13-3 run capped by Damon Tillery's layup with six seconds remaining that cut the deficit to 51-50. Liberty's Cheyney Preston then sneaked behind the Lakeland defense for an easy layup and the Cavaliers called time out with five seconds left.
``We set up a play for Amon Cross,'' said Lakeland coach John Fuller. ``They covered it well so Baker had to take the shot.''
Said Baker, ``I was just hoping that it would go in when it left (my hand), but it fell short.''
Lakeland (19-10), the Bay Rivers District and Region I runner-up, had beaten previously unbeaten Greensville County and Fort Defiance, which was ranked as high as sixth in the Group AA poll.
``We proved a whole lot to a whole lot of people,'' said Damon Tillery, whose team played this season in the shadow of crosstown rival and defending Group AA champion Nansemond River.
``A lot of people doubted us. Nobody ever thought we'd make it here, but we went out and played hard every night and played as a team.''
The Minutemen (25-0), who spent the entire season ranked No. 1 in the state and beat Nansemond River in a semifinal Friday, used nine players in the first half and played a fullcourt man-to-man defense for most of the game.
They erased an early six-point Lakeland lead on a free throw by Neil Roop with 1:44 left until halftime. Gregg Reynolds' foul shots put Liberty ahead by 26-24 at the half.
Tillery kept the Cavaliers close, scoring 10 points in the first half.
``I was getting in front and doing my moves (in the first half),'' said Tillery, who finished with a game-high 19. ``They saw what was going on and played me more physical after that.''
Lakeland led only once in the second half 35-34 with 1:30 left in the third quarter. Liberty responded with a 12-2 run to take its biggest lead of the game 47-37 with 5:11 left to play. Lakeland went to a trap defense for its final run, but Liberty's quickness and depth wore down the Cavaliers, who used seven players.
With 3:30 left in the fourth, the Minutemen led 47-42 and patiently worked the ball around with the Cavaliers chasing. Liberty outran Lakeland for three offensive rebounds to use up more than two minutes. Robert Carson then missed a foul shot, but several players grabbed the rebound, forcing a jump ball. Liberty got the ball and Preston hit two free throws to make the score 50-46.
``They were hustling more and we got tired,'' said John Ricks, who sat out most of the second half with four fouls. ``They got long rebounds off their shots.''
James Pruden, who scored six points in the final minute, hit a layup after a pass from Baker before Preston was found wide open at the other end for an easy layup.
``They showed a lot of grit and character coming back,'' Liberty coach Mark Hanks said. ``They did a nice job and went to that trap.''
Amon Cross scored 10 points for Lakeland, while Ricks had nine points and five blocks. Pruden finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
Raymond Arrington led Liberty with 16 points, while J.J. Coles had 13 and Preston 11. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot
Lakeland's Amon Cross, center, knocks Liberty's Raymond Arrington
out of bounds while James Pruden trails the play.
by CNB