THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 11, 1997 TAG: 9702110465
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 42 lines
Antoine Willie, a two-time Group AA player of the year and South Hampton Roads' leading scorer this season, has been dismissed from Nansemond River High's basketball team, coach Spencer Mayfield said Monday.
According to Mayfield, Willie quit the team on Friday. Willie's mother, Gloria, talked to Mayfield Monday about the possibility of her son rejoining the team, but Mayfield would not reconsider.
``It's one of the most difficult decisions I have made since I have been coaching,'' Mayfield said. ``It's difficult because it affects a kid.''
Mayfield would not go into specifics, but said his authority was challenged last Wednesday leading to the subsequent dismissal.
``He challenged me,'' said Mayfield, who has won more than 400 games in his 25 years of coaching. ``He went up the wrong road and challenged authority for too long.''
Willie, the area's leading scorer at 28.6 points per game, sat on the bench in street clothes during the Warriors' 62-56 loss at Indian River Friday. Had Nansemond River beaten the Braves, it would have created a tie for first in the Southeastern District.
Repeated attempts Monday to reach Willie at home failed.
Willie, who a week ago scored a season-high 41 points against Hickory High, exits with 2,127 career points, according to state Associated Press writer Marshall Johnson.
Had Willie played the remaining games of the regular season and at least two playoff games in the Southeastern District tournament while maintaining his scoring average, he would have moved onto the Virginia High School League's all-time top-10 scoring list.
Currently 10th on the list is Brunswick High's Bryant Stith, who finished his career in 1988 with 2,221 points and was also a two-time Group AA player of the year. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Antoine Willie