DATE: Wednesday, February 26, 1997          TAG: 9702260668

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   43 lines

MENCHVILLE HANDS FALCONS ANOTHER REGION HEARTBREAK

The situation didn't call for a 3-pointer, but the way they were falling for Menchville no one would have criticized reserve guard Ben Williams if his open 20-footer with four seconds left had missed.

Not to worry. Williams' shot found nothing but net and the Monarchs escaped with a 52-50 victory over Cox in a Eastern Region quarterfinal Tuesday night at Cox.

Menchville (18-6) meets Booker T. Washington in Thursday night's semifinals at Churchland. Cox (20-4) keeps a date with its old friend despair.

The Falcons have lost three region quarterfinal games over the past six years by a total of eight points.

``It's like a curse or something,'' senior guard Carl Lentz said.

Menchville made five field goals in the fourth quarter, all treys. The Monarchs were 7 of 15 overall from beyond the arc.

So when Jaime Irvine's two free throws put Cox in front 50-49 with 10 seconds left Menchville had neither time nor reason to be choosy about its shot selection.

Kenny Harrell hustled the ball across midcourt and pulled up just in front of the arc with Cox's Mike Coston in his face.

``I thought for sure Harrell would shoot and we weren't going to let him beat us,'' Lentz said, explaining why he backed off Williams on the right wing.

Williams knew better.

``I knew Kenny would get me the ball,'' he said. ``When my man went to help out and left me open I didn't hesitate. I've been feeling it all day.''

Williams scored only six points on a pair of fourth-quarter 3-pointers.

``It was a heckuva shot,'' Lentz said. ``A gutsy shot.''

Cox called timeout with three seconds left to set up a final play, but Jason Dubois' court-length pass went out of bounds.

Williams' game-winning basket provided the sixth lead change of the fourth quarter and spoiled a comeback by Cox which trailed 33-21. Irvine, who missed his first eight shots from the floor, scored 18 of his game-high 20 points in the final 10 1/2 minutes.

``Once I score my first basket it usually gets my rhythm going. It just took a bit longer than usual,''he said.

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