Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990 TAG: 9003092009
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B12 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Wakefield unleashed its fast break on Franklin County when the Eagles crashed the boards for rebounds, and the Warriors steadily pulled away for a 81-62 victory in the opening round of the Group AAA basketball tournament Thursday night at William and Mary Hall.
Wakefield (24-3), in the tournament for the first time since 1969, advances to tonight's second semifinal game against Eastern Region champion Bayside, a 49-48 winner over Manchester.
The Warriors, champions of the Northern Region, won their 12th straight by shooting 73.7 percent (14-of-19) in the second half and 64.6 percent (31-of-48) for the game.
"A lot of easy ones," said Wakefield guard Kenya Hunter, who had nine assists and nine points. "[Franklin County] just wasn't getting back on the break."
There was a good reason for that, said Ed Holstrom, the Eagles' coach.
"As small as we are [no regular taller than 6 feet 3], we have to send four players to the boards," Holstrom said. "Sometimes you can't get back in time when you do that."
Wakefield outrebounded Franklin County 43-37, with 6-6 Travis Spencer and 6-5 Chris Chandler grabbing 11 each.
It didn't help that the Eagles (17-8) left their shooting touch on the bus. Trying to play catchup, Franklin County shot 29.3 percent (12-of-41) in the second half and 36.5 percent (27-of-74) for the game.
"We're capable of shooting better than that," Holstrom said. "But for the second half of this season, we've only shot over 38 percent three games."
Part of the problem Thursday was a triangle-and-two defense the Warriors clamped on Carlos Trotter and Mark Mitchell, two of the Eagles' three primary triggermen. Travis Fuller is the other.
With Hunter in hot pursuit, Mitchell was held to five shots and one field goal in the second half. He scored three points after intermission and finished with 15.
"They were very quick and played some good defense on me," said Mitchell, a four-year starter who is the only 1,000-point scorer in Franklin County history.
Trotter had problems, too. With Charles Oliver hawking him, Trotter was held to 2-of-11 shooting and had only four of his 18 points in the last 16 minutes.
"In the first half, I was taking open shots and not forcing anything," said Trotter, who fouled out of his final high school game with 2:06 left. "In the second half, I was forcing it."
Fuller finished with 13 points and Tony Smith had 13 rebounds for the Eagles. Those efforts were overshadowed by a Wakefield team that played brilliantly.
The standout was 6-2 senior Rayfield Boyd, who released down the floor on the break to make 14 of 16 shots and score 30 points.
"We put Rayfield at the point of the triangle because he doesn't want to play defense anyway, do you Rayfield?" said Bob Veldran, Wakefield's 18-year coach.
"Yes, but I'm active up there," Boyd said.
Too active for Holstrom. "He played great, but no way was he in the scouting report to score 30 points," the coach said.\ FRANKLIN COUNTY (62)
Underwood 1-1 1-2 3, Forry 0-1 0-0 0, Trotter 8-22 0-0 18, Wade 0-3 0-0 0, Mitchell 7-16 1-5 15, Fuller 5-16 1-2 13, Helms 3-5 0-0 7, Smith 2-6 0-1 4, Bernard 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 27-74 3-10 62.\ WAKEFIELD (81)
Hunter 4-6 1-2 9, Oliver 2-3 1-2 5, Lewis 0-0 3-4 3, Boyd 14-16 1-2 30, Orr 2-4 1-6 5, Spencer 5-13 4-6 15, Mills 1-1 0-0 2, Chandler 3-5 6-11 12. Totals 31-48 17-33 81. Franklin County 20131316-62 Wakefield 20211624-81
Three-point goals-Franklin County 5-10 (Trotter 2-3, Mitchell 0-2, Forry 0-1, Fuller 2-3, Helms 1-1), Wakefield 2-5 (Boyd 1-1, Spencer 1-4). Fouled out-Trotter, Fuller. Rebounds-Franklin County 37 (Smith 13), Wakefield 43 (Spencer, Chandler 11). Assists-Franklin County 10 (Trotter, Mitchell 3), Wakefield 18 (Hunter 9). Total fouls-Franklin County 24, Wakefield 11. Technical fouls-None. A-NA.
by CNB