Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 30, 1995 TAG: 9511300031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
In past years, the district has dominated Timesland with stars such as Patrick Henry's George Lynch, who has gone on to an NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, to the Patriots' Curtis Staples, who starts for Virginia.
Bob Gibbons and other nationally known recruiting analysts knew where William Fleming, Patrick Henry and the RVD were as PH won two Group AAAtitles and William Fleming made the Group AAA championship game and the semifinal round in the past seven years.
The heir to this legacy is James Stokes, a 6-foot-5 senior forward for William Fleming. To maintain that tradition, though, Stokes must put together a consistent season. As a junior, Stokes averaged 18.5 points through six games, but he scored an average of only 14 points in the last six contests.
The Colonels certainly enter the season as the team to beat, but the RVD won't be nearly as strong as it has been the past few years. Most every team was hit hard by graduation, including Fleming, which lost the district's best player and perhaps its last marquee star for a while in point guard Derrick Hines.
``By this year's standards, we may be pretty good,'' said Burrall Paye, the Colonels' coach. ``Everyone says the league's down. We're not where we used to be talent-wise. For the most part, all my players are working hard'' to get there.
Paye says this is one of his least experienced teams at guard. It might turn out to be very talented if R.J. Reynolds, Brad Dunleavy and Richard Wilson make the jump from junior varsity to help returning reserve Percy Pannell.
Up front, Fleming has Stokes, 6-6 Sterling Tate and 6-3 Charles Burnette. Tate has battled knee injuries and his health will be a big factor in Fleming's season, as will Stokes' continued development
``We're stressing execution and ... individual improvement every day,'' Paye said. ``We're not going to worry about the wins and losses. We'll let them take care of themselves.''
Still, Paye will keep an eye on the victory total. He needs 22 to reach 500 for his career. The Colonels likely will have to reach the Group AAA semifinal round or better for it to happen this season. If it does, that might be Paye's cue to ride off into the sunset and retire from coaching.
A season ago, Patrick Henry did the unthinkable and went winless in the district. It won't happen again this time. These won't be the Patriots of old, but they will be a challenging team under Woody Deans, the only current Roanoke coach with two state titles to his name.
``I'd like to think we won't finish last,'' Deans said. ``I figure somewhere in the middle.''
Most seasons, with no marquee player back for PH, that might be correct. This season, the Patriots' experience could be enough to help them challenge for the title.
``The improvement in experience is the biggest thing,'' Deans said. ``We have decent height. But one night we'll be led by one person and on another night by another person.''
Brooks Berry and Phillip Taylor, both in the 6-4, 6-5 range, give PH decent height. Both could develop into double-figure scorers, along with returning guard Rashad Myers.
If there is a marquee possibility besides Stokes, it might be 6-1 K.C. Hancock at Franklin County. Hancock averaged 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds last season as a forward. The problem is that by Group AAA standards, he's not big for an inside player.
The Eagles also welcome back guard Bradley McCall, but after that coach Calvin Preston will have to go with newcomers who lack height.
``We're young, but this team has a lot of potential,'' Preston said. ``We'll take our thumps, but as young as we are, we'll be able to overcome them.
``Even without [marquee] players, the district can do OK in the regional because we've all had good junior varsity teams. The younger kids are going to have more of a chance.''
Preston and his staff attended the Virginia High School Coaches' Association clinic during the summer and listened to every college coach from Arkansas' Nolan Richardson to North Carolina's Sylvia Hatchell and Wake Forest's Karen Freeman.
``With a young team, you have to go back to teaching,'' Preston said. ``They [the women's coaches such as Hatchell and Freeman] run some of the same things we want to run, and I wanted to listen to them and pick up on what they're running.''
The biggest question mark in the district is Pulaski County. Coach Pat Burns isn't even sure who will be on hand, because football players Craig Hodge and J.R. Brown have hinted they might not play.
Returning guard Jamar McNair will play. He already has been offered a full ride to Radford University, Burns said, so the RVD will have at least one Division I recruit
McNair's statistics don't make him a marquee player, but his quickness and shooting ability might.
``With the people we had this summer, we had no size or physical muscle. We were sleek and small. We were very athletic. Now, I have no idea,'' said Burns, who will wait and see who comes out for the team now that football season is over.
Cave Spring was wiped out by graduation, with point guard Jeff Lang the only returning starter. The Knights also have sixth man Billy Frantz returning, but it will be a struggle to match last season's winning record.
Cave Spring was supposed to contend for the title in 1994-95, but the Knights finished third behind Fleming and Pulaski County. In short, with most of the team back from the previous season, the Knights didn't reach their expectations.
``I think compared to last year, the talent level on each team will be down,'' said Chris Carr, Cave Spring's coach. ``The RVD took a hit in having stars back from last year. It probably matters for the regionals how each team jells. We're very young and inexperienced. You know what can come from that.''
``If Fleming comes together, they could be a great representative. As far as speculation goes, it could be a struggle'' for all the RVD teams.
Here is a closer look at those teams:
CAVE SPRING
'94-95 record: 12-10 overall, 5-3 district.
Coach: Chris Carr, second year.
Returning starter: Jeff Lang, 6-0, Sr., G, 7.3 points per game, 5.9 assists per game.
Other key players: Billy Frantz, 6-2, Sr., G, 3.1 ppg; Chris Johnston, 6-4, Sr., C; Olin McClain, 6-3, Sr., F; Alex Phillips, 6-5, Jr., F; Scott Shirley, 6-2, Jr., G; Ryan Boitnott, 6-1, Jr., F.
Outlook: With only one returning starter, Cave Spring will have a hard time matching the record Carr compiled in his first season. The Knights do have more height than last season and won't be the only inexperienced team in the district.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
'94-95 record: 12-10 overall, 3-5 district.
Coach: Calvin Preston, fifth year.
Returning starters: K.C. Hancock, 6-1, Sr., F, 14.9 ppg, 6.0 rebounds per game; Bradley McCall, 6-0, Sr., G, 7.5 ppg.
Other key players: Tony Wright, 6-0, Sr., G; Jamie Dunn, 5-11, Jr., C-F; Henry Eggleston, 6-1, Soph., F; Kermit Noel, 6-0, Soph., F; Travis Kent, 5-10, Jr., G; Ashley Moore, 5-9, Sr., G.
Outlook: Franklin County has a better blend of veterans and newcomers than most RVD teams, but the Eagles may be hard-pressed to improve on last season's record. A lack of experienced height hurts this team.
PATRICK HENRY
'94-95 record: 6-15 overall, 0-8 district.
Coach: Woody Deans, 13th year.
Returning starters: Brooks Berry, 6-5, Sr., F, 8.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg; Phillip Taylor, 6-4, Sr., F, 7.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg; Rashad Myers, 6-2, Sr., G, 5.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg.
Other key players: Brian Jackson, 5-10, Sr., G, 5.1 ppg.; Devar Thompson, 6-2, Sr., C, 3.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg; Boo Battle, 6-4, Soph., F; Ronnie Kasey, 5-6, Jr., G; Colby Leftwich, 6-3, Jr., F; Malik Shareef, 6-3, Jr., C.
Outlook: After being down for a season, Patrick Henry should return to its accustomed position in the thick of the fight for the district title. The Patriots have more balance, in terms of experience, than any other team. They also have a strong group of newcomers.
PULASKI COUNTY
'94-95 record: 18-6 overall, 6-2 district.
Coach: Pat Burns, 10th year
Returning starter: Jamar McNair, 5-9, Sr., guard, 5.8 ppg.
Other key players: J.R. Brown, 5-111/2, Jr., G (may not play); Craig Hodge, 5-10, Soph., G (may not play); Robert Rogers, 6-2, Soph., F (sidelined by arm injury); Derrick Hunter, 5-10, Sr., G; Jabbar Patterson, 6-1, Jr., F; Ron Branch, 6-21/2, Jr., F; Brad Dalton, 5-9, Jr., G; Dorion Hendricks, 6-21/2, Fr., F; Brett Chrisley, 6-0, Sr., F; Steven Owen, 5-11, Sr., G.
Outlook: This could be a very quick and athletic group of players, depending on the availability of some key Cougars. Burns isn't sure two football players or Rogers will play.
WILLIAM FLEMING
'94-95 record: 19-6 overall, 6-2 district.
Coach: Burrall Paye, 19th year.
Returning starter: James Stokes, 6-5, Sr., F, 16.6 ppg, 11.9 rpg; Sterling Tate, 6-6, Sr., C, 7.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg; Charles Burnette, 6-3, Jr., F, 8.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg.
Other key players: Percy Pannell, 6-3, Jr., F, 4.5 ppg (four games); Richard Wilson, 5-6, Jr., G; Brad Dunleavy, 6-3, Jr., G-F; R.J. Reynolds, 5-8, Jr., G-F; Ray Copney, 6-2, Sr., C.
Outlook: The Colonels should have another strong team, but it's always hard to get a reading on Fleming before Christmas. The Colonels have the most inside experience and have the district's biggest team. Paye is the RVD's winningest coach and always has his team in contention.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:1, William Fleming; 2, Patrick Henry; 3, Franklin County; 4, Pulaski County; 5, Cave Spring.
by CNB