Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 18, 1995 TAG: 9503210046
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
Liberty is not one of them, and 6-foot-5 Stephen Shrader proved that Friday. While the Minutemen had plenty of heart, they just didn't have the physical tools to go 32 minutes against the Warriors and lost 78-68 in the Group AA basketball state semifinals at the Vines Center.
``That's the biggest, most physical team we've played,'' Shrader said. ``We weren't going to back down. We weren't in awe.''
To prove his point, Shrader had a game-high 32 points and hauled in nine rebounds. He, along with J.J. Coles, kept Liberty (22-5) close for a half before the Minutemen lost stream down the stretch.
Nansemond River (25-2) broke a halftime tie with two quick baskets. Then, after Shrader moved in for a layup to make it a two-point game, sophomore Antoine Willie hit two 3-point field goals, and the Warriors were in control.
Nansemond River moves into the championship game today at 2:45 p.m. against Northside, which edged Caroline 64-62 in the other semifinal. It will be the second time they've battle for the Group AA title in four years.
``Willie was silent for a while, and then he hits those 3s,'' Liberty coach Mark Hanks said. ``That took it out of us.''
Willie fired in 26 points and clearly was the difference.
Liberty's other problem was outside shooting. Most of the year, the Minutemen have shot well from 3-point range. But Liberty missed all 13 attempts against Nansemond River.
``Those shots gave them confidence,'' Shrader said. ``We still had our chances, but we couldn't capitalize on them.''
Before the half, Coles led the Minutemen's fast break that kept Liberty in the game. He backed Shrader with 13 points. Coles and Gregg Reynolds had seven steals between them.
``We've never played any team that can jump all over the place like that one,'' Coles said. ``We're used to a team having two or three players like that, but not all five.''
``Their pressure bothered us,'' said Hanks, whose club committed 26 turnovers and caused 23 by Nansemond River. ``We haven't been pressured like that all year.''
At some points, Nansemond River resembled a volleyball team as it tapped the ball from one side of the basket to the other on offense. The Warriors outrebounded Liberty 42-37. In the first quarter, Nansemond River had 10 more rebounds than the Minutemen but made only eight of 23 shots.
Liberty earned a 36-36 tie at the half with its fast break. The Minutemen also got the ball to Shrader inside, and he scored 16 points in the opening two quarters.
After intermission, Nansemond River coach Spencer Mayfield changed strategy to stop Liberty.
``They were sending two or three people down the floor, and we were sending one. So we adjusted and sent more people down. Basketball is a game of adjustments. They couldn't get as many easy baskets in the second half,'' Mayfield said.
Though Nansemond River has had little trouble with Group AA opposition this year, with both losses coming to Group AAA teams, Mayfield expected a tough game.
``Liberty came with a mission. Their intensity didn't surprise me. When you've won 22 of 26, how can you surprise anyone?'' Mayfield asked.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB