THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 1, 1997 TAG: 9702010655
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 36 lines
Lake Taylor less an injured Juritus Thompson is like the Bulls minus Michael.
Thompson, who is South Hampton Roads top scorer (24.4 ppg), is day-to-day with a sprained ankle and could only watch as her Titans fell 61-47 to No. 2 Booker T. Washington in Friday's Eastern District girls basketball matchup.
The Bookers (15-0 overall, 10-0 Eastern District) move three games ahead in the league race with just four more to play.
Booker T. opened with a 20-8 run, but suffered cold shooting in the second quarter as Lake Taylor (9-6, 7-3) closed to within three to end the second.
The Titans, down 32-29 at the half, capitalized on an 11-of-16 performance from the free throw line. Tasha Thompson had eight of her game-high 24 points in Lake Taylor's rally.
``I think we started fouling because we were frustrated and missing shots,'' Booker T.'s Natasha Basnight said. ``Coach Davidson told us at halftime to play tough, smart defense without unnecessary fouls and the offense would come.''
And in the second half it did.
The Bookers manhandled Lake Taylor in the third and put the game out of reach.
Booker T.'s full court press iced the Titans, who shot a grim 10 percent from the floor in the quarter.
Meanwhile, the Bookers scored 15 straight in a 17-2 run.
``With Juritus, we would've had more offense and more ball handling,'' Lake Taylor coach Theresa Jones said. ``That's only a 14-point game. It would definitely been a different game. Although, I'm very proud of my kids. They played their hearts out.''
Basnight led Booker T. with 20 points and Raquita Washington chipped in 13.