Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 20, 1993 TAG: 9303200262
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
LOSS OF FOCUS PERTURBS PLAYERS
As the finality of John Marshall's 76-68 basketball victory seeped in on the losers from William Fleming, the Colonels became mercilessly self-critical."They don't need to be," Colonels coach Burrall Paye said. "They've had a good year. One game does not a season make."
But one game an unpleasant taste does on occasion leave. Especially if that game is a state Group AAA semifinal loss.
"All year we've known that we have a state team," Fleming forward Jemare Crump said. "John Marshall played a good game and they're to be commended. But if we played them again, we beat them by 10."
Certainly, the Colonels appeared to be capable of that when they made 10 of their first 12 shots to take a 22-14 lead.
"We were ready at the beginning," Fleming senior guard Carlos Rhodes said, "but then we let up."
Just that quickly, the Justices were back in the game, outscoring the Colonels 29-10 in the second quarter. Fleming was fighting from behind the rest of the game.
"That's us; that's the kind of team we are," Fleming point guard Derrick Hines said. "It seems like we always get up on a team 10-0. But then we have trouble keeping our focus."
The Colonels (22-6) did eventually get back with the program, but the detour obviously was a disaster.
"You just don't know how frustrating it is," Crump said. "We really didn't have the fight in us tonight - you could see that. Some of us had it and some didn't. For that, I blame nobody."
Crump had 17 points, six rebounds and six assists. Phillip Lacey scored 17 to go with a game-high 12 rebounds. Rhodes had 21 points but struggled from afar, going only 2-of-10 from 3-point range.
The team struggled at the free-throw line, going 14-of-25.
"We made 15 of 16 the other night [in a quarterfinal victory over Hayfield]," Paye said. "We shoot like that tonight and we probably win the game."
Crump said the players should take responsibility for the faulty marksmanship.
"It's a question of discipline and maturity," he said. "Coach Paye stresses that we work hard and stay focused in practice. But we don't always do it. You see it when we're shooting free throws. Some of us are playing around. It showed tonight."
Added Rhodes: "We had the best team in the tournament. We should have won it."