THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 22, 1997 TAG: 9702220619
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 68 lines
VIRGINIA BEACH - Michelle Garcia, Latricia Simon and Angela Sye combined to make seven free throws in the final three minutes to boost Salem to a 35-31 victory over top-ranked Kempsville Friday in the Beach District girls basketball tournament final.
The victory, the Sun Devils' first in three games against Kempsville this season, snapped the Chiefs' 16-game winning streak and ended their three-year reign as district tournament champions.
``Nothing feels better than when everybody tells you you can't do something and you go out and do it anyway,'' Salem coach Larry Bowman said.
Kempsville (23-2) a seemingly comfortable 29-19 lead with 2:07 remaining in the third quarter, then went nearly seven minutes without scoring and committed 10 turnovers in a disastrous two-point fourth quarter.
Garcia had a game-high 12 points and Simon came off the bench to add nine. Carrie Heath scored eight points to pace Kempsville.
Both teams advanced to the Eastern Region tournament that starts Monday. Kempsville hosts Gloucester and Salem (19-6) visits nationally ranked Menchville.
- PAUL WHITE Churchland girls stun No. 2 Booker T. for Eastern title
PORTSMOUTH - The Churchland Truckers put together a solid inside attack to upset second-ranked and previously undefeated Booker T. Washington 48-45 in the Eastern District girls tournament final.
Tasha Basnight stole a pass, but the shot bounced off the rim with less than a second to go to avoid the overtime. Basnight kept the Bookers in the game throughout, scoring a game-high 19 points.
The Truckers twice had suffered 20-plus point losses to Booker T. this season.
Kim Elliott sparked the Truckers (18-5) with her fourth straight double-double, scoring 16 points with 14 rebounds. Shelly Singleton grabbed two defensive rebounds in the final 30 seconds to help seal the win.
Booker T. (22-1) hosts Nansemond River in the Eastern Region tournament Monday night at 7. Churchland travels to Oscar Smith.
- REA McLEROY Oscar Smith girls capture Southeastern District crown
CHESAPEAKE - Heading into the Southeastern District girls basketball final, top-seeded Oscar Smith had but one loss.
The team responsible - second-seeded Nansemond River, the Tigers opponents in the title game.
That one blemish would not become two, however, as Katie Kraemer scored 14 points, including the game-winning free throws with less than 15 seconds left, as the host Tigers defeated the Warriors 55-53.
``This is how a title game should be played,'' Oscar Smith coach Patty Walsh said . ``These girls don't ever give up.''
After Oscar Smith took a 41-28 lead near the end of the third period, the Warriors went on a 20-3 run to take a 58-53 lead. Demetria Beamon scored the first seven and Joycelyn Williams added five of her game-high 21 during the run.
The Warriors (16-4) almost had the game won with about 33 seconds left, when Williams stole an inbound pass, scored and converted a free throw to give the Warriors their last lead of the game at 53-52. But Kraemer was fouled near mid-court and hit both her free throws, clinching Oscar Smith's (22-1) second district tournament title in three years.
- BRIAN J. FRENCH ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
Churchland players jump for joy as the Truckers deal Booker T.
Washington its first loss of the season in the Eastern District
girls tournament final.