THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603200268
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Jami Frankenberry
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
ODD AND ENDS from this weekend's boys basketball state tournament at Liberty University in Lynchburg:
IMPRESSIVE DEFENSE: Lakeland's loss in the championship game, 53-50, to Liberty was not due to poor defense. The Cavaliers held Liberty to one of 14 on three-point attempts.
In a 64-54 semifinal win over Northside, Lakeland held Vikings sharpshooter Justin Porterfield to eight points, seven below his average.
GOOD ENOUGH: Allowing a player to score 17 points isn't exactly a great accomplishment. Unless that player is Nansemond River's Antoine Willie, who averaged nearly 26 points per game this season.
``If we could keep him somewhat contained, I was going to be happy,'' Liberty coach Mark Hanks said after his team held Willie to 17 points in a 59-58 semifinal win over the Warriors. ``You just can't totally shut him down.''
RECORD HOLDERS: Nansemond River left an unforgettable impression on the Group AA state tournament record book in the last six years. Antoine Willie set three records in 1995 - most tournament points (91), field goal attempts (76) and three-point attempts (36) - while Montoria Valentine set a record for most steals in the tournament last year (17).
The Warriors also have the following team records: most points in a single game (97) in 1992; most field goal attempts in a single game (81) in 1995; most tournament points (253) in 1995; most field goals made in the tournament (96); most field goals attempted in the tournament (230) in 1995; most tournament rebounds (150) in 1995; and most tournament assists (62) in 1995.
COSTLY FREE THROWS: Foul shots played a part in ending Nansemond River's season. In the semifinal loss to Liberty, the Warriors made just seven of 13 from the free throw line for 53.8 percent. The Minutemen weren't much better, hitting 15 of 24 (62.5 percent). But Liberty made its last four in the final quarter.
SUPER SOPHOMORE: If a most valuable player award were given in the state tournament, Liberty's Raymond Arrington would have been a good candidate. The sophomore scored 17 against Nansemond River and 16 against Lakeland. More importantly, he was 15 for 16 from the foul line, including six straight in the fourth quarter against the Warriors.
``We think he's the best sophomore from our area,'' Liberty coach Mark Hanks said of Arrington. ``He's already being contacted by Division I schools.'' by CNB