DATE: Friday, April 4, 1997                 TAG: 9704040933

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED MILLER AND PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITERS 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:  121 lines

THIS 94-FOOT DRIVE WAS A DOLLAR SHORT AT THE PIT

The score was tied at 85 with four seconds left and News Channel 3 stood 94 feet from victory. But no one knows this drill better than UCLA's Cameron Dollar.

Two years ago, he watched teammate Tyus Edney dribble the length of the court and score to beat Missouri in the NCAA tournament. Two weeks ago, he did the same thing in the final seconds to beat Iowa State.

The magic must be in the UCLA uniform, though, for Dollar's coast-to-coast layup attempt didn't fall and Sales Systems did, 95-92, in overtime to K-Plus Service in the 45th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament Thursday night at Churchland High.

News Channel 3 lost despite a tournament-high 30 points from Marquette's Chris Crawford. Minnesota's John Thomas paced K-Plus Service with 19 points and 17 rebounds.

In the final first-round game, South Carolina's Larry Davis scored 18 points as Beach Barton Ford cruised past Dolsey Ltd, 90-67.

Early exit

Final Four participants are always prime candidates to withdraw from the PIT, so tournament officials breathed a sigh of relief when Minnesota All-American Bobby Jackson arrived Wednesday. Thursday, though, Jackson was on a flight home because of an illness to his daughter.

Boston College's Devan Thomas, a 6-7 forward who was not invited to the PIT but paid his own way to Portsmouth just in case, took Jackson's spot in the Beach Barton Ford lineup. Tournament officials were unable to locate Old Dominion's E.J. Sherod, their first choice as Jackson's replacement.

Thomas finished with seven points and five rebounds in 19 minutes.

Slam king

With 14 seconds left in a losing effort Thursday, Naval Shipyard's Andrell Hoard decided to have some fun. The 6-3 guard from Northeastern Illinois drove to the basket, tossed the ball off the backboard and slammed it home.

Coming from Hoard, it was no surprise. He won the slam dunk competition at the Final Four, beating out several larger, and better-known players.

Hoard doesn't know if it'll help get him to the NBA or not. But it hasn't hurt his name recognition.

``At first I didn't want to make a big deal out of it,'' he said. ``But then someone told me that something like 60 million people saw it. It was good exposure.''

Hoard scored 11 points Thursday.

On tap

Today's schedule: the consolation game - News Channel 3 vs. Dolsey, Ltd., 1:30 p.m.. Then the semi: Sales Systems Ltd. vs. Portsmouth Sports Club, 7 p.m.; K-Plus Service vs. Beach Barton Ford, 9 p.m.

Former Boston Celtics great Kevin McHale will be the featured speaker at the PIT celebrity luncheon today at 11:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn-Waterfront. For more information, call Wilson Adams at 484-2494. MEMO: The Virginian-Pilot's Chic Riebel contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Peter Aluma, right, of K-Plus Services (and Liberty) shoots against

Thaddeus Delaney of News Channel 3 (College of Charleston) Thursday.

PIT TOURNAMENT STOCK MARKET

Here's a capsule look at how five NBA scouts appraised selected

players in Thursday's PIT games:

JEFF CAPEL

6-4 guard, Duke

Credentials: 10.8 pts, 2.6 assists, honorable mention All-ACC.

The pre-PIT report: Tenacious defender, streaky shooter with good

range.

Thursday's numbers:: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals.

What the scouts saw: Passed the ball well, made good decisions

and showed he could play the point. Sees court well. Was able to

penetrate well, but was not always able to finish. Struggled with

his outside shot. Very aggressive on defense. ``To be honest, I

liked him better when he was a freshman and sophomore.''

Telling comment: ``Capel's seems to be a clutch player, and that

kind of thing is very difficult for the NBA to ignore.''

Verdict: Should be drafted.

CHRIS CRAWFORD

6-9 guard, Marquette

Credentials: 14.6 pts, 5.6 rebs.

The pre-PIT report: Lean, athletic type with good range for a big

man.

Thursday's numbers:: 30 points (12-of-20 fgs, 4-7 3-ptrs, 7

rebounds.

What the scouts saw: Impressive banger who plays physical but can

also step out and hit the college three. Needs work on his defense

on the perimeter.

Telling comment: ``A knocker inside who can shoot outside? That's

a nice combination.''

Verdict: Opened some eyes.

JOHN THOMAS

6-9 forward, Minnesot

Credentials: 9.8 pts, 6.5 rebounds.

The pre-PIT report: Strong rebounder and defender, limited

offensive repetoire.

Thursday's numbers:: 19 points, 17 rebounds (8 offensive)

What the scouts saw: ``Tough, tough, tough.'' Battled to get the

tough rebound all night. A good team player. Worked hard every

minute he was on the floor.

Telling comment: ``I would have like to have seen more

offensively, but it looks like the type who'll improve in that

area.''

Verdict: Helped himself.

CARMELO TRAVIESO

6-2 guard, UMass

Credentials: 15.1 pts, 3.4 assists, All-Atlantic 10

The pre-PIT report: Solid point guard with shooting skills.

Thursday's numbers:: 15 points, 6 assists, one turnover.

Telling comment: ``A decent all-around player.''

Verdict: Will be in someone's camp.

Other player comments:

Johnny Taylor, 6-8 forward, Tennessee-Chattanooga (7 points, 6

rebounds): ``Long, rangy kid who rebounds pretty well for his

size.''

Anthony Epps, 6-2 guard, Kentucky (18 points - 4-of-7 3-pointers

- 3 assists): ``Showed he could push the ball up the court and make

the outside shot. Needs to work on creating his shot off the

dribble.''

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