Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 11, 1990 TAG: 9003112670
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Injury, illness and effective defense conspired against the Knights as the Flying Flucos won 64-40 in the Group A high school championship at University Hall.
The low point of the best season in James River history was the final game. The Knights were taken out of their offense, intimidated inside by the menacing 6-foot-6 junior center Luther Bates and harried outside by rugged perimeter defenders.
"We couldn't put it in the ocean," said John Shotwell, James River's coach. "Not taking anything away from Fluvanna, because they did a great job, but I don't think we played very well at all offensively."
The Knights' points total was a season-low by a long shot. The previous low was in a 58-50 victory over Pioneer District foe Glenvar. The Knights have scored less than 70 points only six times all season.
James River (26-2) shot 34.4 percent in the first half and 26.9 in the second. The Flucos (25-4) forced 17 turnovers, blocked five shots and hurried numerous others in winning their second consecutive state title at U-Hall, the big-arena equivalent of a home court for nearby Fluvanna.
James River's big three of Maurice Davenport, Don Turpin and George Thompson - who scored more than 1,500 points among them this season - ended up carrying the load again Saturday. Thompson had 15, Davenport 14 and Turpin 11 as each ended his high school career.
Turpin's finish was particularly painful. After missing all of last season with an injury, Turpin played brilliantly this season. It appeared he would continue to do so as he scored the Knights' first eight points and ended the first half with three 3-pointers.
However, he injured his right leg and his effectiveness diminished dramatically.
"I fell on my knee wrong and I couldn't use my legs after that," he said. "It threw my shot way off."
Turpin made only four of 17 shots and finished 3-of-12 from 3-point range. In addition to being sore and sick with a virus, Turpin also had to contend with Fluvanna's choke-hold perimeter defense.
"They just ran right at out and tried to hit your elbow or do anything that would throw your shot off," Turpin said. "I guess they were doing it too quick for the referees to see it."
At other times, problems other than the defense arose.
"We had the shots, but they wouldn't fall," Turpin said. "No excuses."
One guy who didn't have enough shots was Davenport, who was 7-of-17 as the Knights saw the end come to their 22-game winning streak.
"He's a big part of our offense, but we didn't get him into it enough," Shotwell said. "Their defense is tough and we don't match up with them man-for-man right on down the line. We had to change our shots and, sometimes when you do that, it doesn't work out for you."
Fluvanna overplayed the wings on defense, which often prevented the entry pass.
"I don't think that bothered us all that much, but I do think that when they did try to overplay, sometimes we could have done a better job of going to the hole instead of standing around," said Derek Jones, the Knights' point guard.
Fatigue seemed to be a factor as the game progressed. Davenport, Thompson and Turpin went the distance, Turpin despite his pain. James River had a grueling 69-67 battle with depth-rich Sussex Central in the semifinals Friday, and might have paid the price for it Saturday.
"Davenport's said that his leg felt weak for two weeks now," Shotwell said. "I don't know what the problem was."
There was no one problem with James River on Saturday.
"Everybody was trying to take it themselves instead of passing it around and waiting for the best shot," Jones said. "We got way out of sync."
by CNB