Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 11, 1990 TAG: 9003112663
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Long
All season, the Knights (26-2) topped The Associated Press Group A rankings. Fluvanna (25-4), which had all five starters back from the team that won the title a year ago, struggled to rise through the rankings during the season.
Though 6-foot-6 junior center Luther Bates, the leader of last year's title run by the Flucos, said it didn't bother Fluvanna not to be No. 1, he played like a man on a mission. Bates scored 21 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and helped defense James River scoring leader Maurice Davenport.
"Everyone can be beat and No. 1 is just a number," said Bates. "We played our best basketball in the state [tournament]. During the year, we weren't playing together, so we had a team meeting and decided to do the same things as last year."
The Flucos finished No. 3 in the Group A rankings, but then slipped and lost to Prince Edward County in their district championship game.
"There was a lot of pressure on these kids," said Munro Rateau, Fluvanna's coach. "To have everybody back, people expected us to win without any trouble. But this team stayed with it."
At the start Saturday, it didn't appear the Flucos would make a successful title defense. The Knights came out flying with guard Don Turpin hitting three 3-point shot. His final one came on a last-second shot that gave James River a 16-13 lead after the first quarter.
It wouldn't last, though. Turpin had injured himself seconds earlier, when he landed heavily and bruised a thigh after blocking a shot.
The senior guard didn't score another point the rest of the afternoon, missing his final 10 shots.
James River might have gone to Davenport, the hero of a semifinal victory over Sussex Central. But Fluvanna County had already removed Davenport as a threat.
"David Johnson usually plays the other team's guard. We don't want him to get in foul trouble," said Rateau. "But we made a switch last [Friday] night, since Davenport looks to play more on the wing. We wanted to deny him from getting the ball where he wants."
Johnson did just that, avoided foul trouble and backed Bates with 19 points. Davenport finished with 14 points, but the Knights never were able to get much out of their patented play in which Davenport runs the baseline from the wing.
"They were cutting me off from driving the baseline," Davenport said. "They were trying to keep me from getting the ball on the wing. Then, I think fatigue set in. But it was the last game and I had to give it all I had."
James River coach John Shotwell didn't have any fancy analysis for his team's disappointing loss. The Knights have been held under 60 points only once all season and under 70 just six times.
"This is what did it," said Shotwell pointing to James River's 31 percent field-goal shooting on the stat sheet.
The Knights only reached 40 points when Davenport hit a follow shot, and James River's three magnificent seniors - Turpin, Davenport and George Thompson - scored all the team's points. Thompson led the way with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Turpin's injury didn't help. "We didn't know if he should play the second half, but he wanted to play," said Shotwell, whose Knights lost in the final to Cumberland in the late 1970s.
"I couldn't use my legs the way I wanted to," said Turpin. "I was going off my left leg. My timing was off."
The Knights were down five at the half and Fluvanna scored the first three baskets after intermission to take an 11-point lead. It appeared the rout was on, but James River didn't die quickly.
The Knights closed to 40-34 as Davenport dunked with 2:56 left in the third quarter.
James River had its chances to trim the margin further. But two turnovers cost the Knights, and then Johnson led a fast break for a layup. The rout was on in earnest.
"I could feel it slipping away right then," said Davenport. "Then, when they started holding the ball in the final quarter, I knew it was over."
"It's hard to believe how well we've played the last month," said Rateau. "This group has responded to any challenge we put in front of them."
"It was a tough game to play," said Shotwell. "They're so physical. I bet they could beat a lot of good Group AA schools."\ JAMES RIVER (40)
Davenport 7-17 0-1 14, Thompson 7-16 1-2 15, Critzer 0-1 0-1 0, Jones 0-4 0-0 0, Turpin 4-17 0-1 11, Baker 0-2 0-0 0, Christian 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-58 1-5 40.\ FLUVANNA (64)
Brice 7-19 0-0 14, Parrish 1-2 0-0 2, Bates 9-15 3-3 21, Opie 1-6 0-0 2, Johnson 5-11 9-12 19, Stribling 0-2 4-4 4, Newton 0-2 0-0 0, Patterson 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 24-58 16-19 64. James River 161086-40 Fluvanna 13181518-64
Three-point goals-James River 3-14 (Turpin 3-12, Jones 0-2), Fluvanna 0-3 (Brice 0-3). Rebounds-James River 34 (Thompson 12), Fluvanna 40 (Bates, Johnson 10). Assists-James River 5 (Turpin 2), Fluvanna 13 (Johnson 5). Steals-James River 11 (Turpin 4), Fluvanna 14 (Parrish 4). Team fouls-James River 14, Fluvanna 11. A-NA.
by CNB