ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 27, 1996 TAG: 9602270101
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
There will be a retirement party in Danville tonight, and Patrick Henry coach Woody Deans hopes he isn't the guest of honor.
Deans' Patriots, who have come on strong the past two months, visit unbeaten George Washington High School for a first-round Northwest Region boys' basketball game.
Deans and GW coach Harry Johnson have announced this will be their last season as they leave schools that, along with William Fleming, have dominated basketball in this part of the state the past two decades.
There is more incentive for Deans than just avoiding a permanent date with his golf clubs for the next few months. In December, GW (19-0) handed the Patriots a 115-73 shellacking, the worst in PH history.
``We're going to turn adversity into opportunity,'' Deans said. ``No team in the state has a better chance to beat GW than we do'' tonight.
Of course, no other team will be playing the Eagles tonight. It is unlikely PH will be smothered as it was in the first game. After a tough December, the Patriots (13-9) bounced back and wound up winning six of their last seven regular-season games. The streak ended with a 52-44 Roanoke Valley District tournament championship game loss to Fleming.
Part of the reason for the PH turnaround has been the emergence of 6-foot-5 senior guard Brooks Berry as a scorer and the continued improved play of sophomore Boo Battle and junior point guard Ronnie Kasey.
``Harry and I have been good friends through the years,'' said Deans, who has invited GW to play in his Crestar Classic the past two years. ``I called him when he was in the hospital for surgery last winter. We've known each other since we started coaching junior varsity. We've had a good rapport with each other, and he's a good Christian gentleman.''
In the other Northwest Region boys' game, William Fleming plays host to Halifax County, a team the Colonels have beaten twice. The Comets are a young team and gave GW a close contest in the Western District title game last week.
Fleming (16-6) also has improved behind the play of three young guards - R.J. Reynolds, Brad Dunleavy and Richard Wilson. The Colonels' only experienced players at the start of the season were forward James Stokes and center Sterling Tate, both of whom started last season. Stokes (17.6 points per game) has been outstanding as the Roanoke Valley District boys' player of the year, and Tate, recovering from knee surgery, has been a double-figure producer the last half of the season.
In the Northwest Region girls' tournament, Pulaski County plays host to E.C. Glass, a team the Cougars (17-6) have beaten twice. Cave Spring (14-8) must travel to Albemarle, where it lost 55-41 this season.
The Region III boys' tournament starts a five-day run today at Rustburg, with Fieldale-Collinsville (15-3) challenging Altavista, the only non-Timesland team in the tournament.
On Wednesday, Salem (15-8) takes on Laurel Park (11-8). Northside (15-7) meets the winner of tonight's game Thursday, and Liberty (20-0), the No.1 team in The Associated Press' Group AA poll, plays the survivor of the Salem-Laurel Park game.
Northside (Blue Ridge) and Fieldale-Collinsville (Piedmont) both won regular-season titles and lost in their district tournaments. Liberty (Seminole) won its tournament and regular-season crowns.
In Group A, Glenvar (16-5) must bounce back from a Pioneer District tournament loss to Bath County (19-3), which won its first district crown in 23 years. Glenvar plays at home against Lebanon, and Bath County visits George Wythe (20-4), one of Timesland's hottest teams. The Maroons have won nine consecutive games, including the Hogoheegee District regular-season and tournament titles.
In other Region C action, Fort Chiswell (12-10) goes to Floyd County (18-3), and Grayson County (17-4), loser of four of its past five outings, plays host to Giles (16-4), which upset Floyd County for the Three Rivers District tournament title.
In the Virginia Independent Schools Division II tournament, Roanoke Valley Christian (16-6) plays Fishburne Military at North Cross in a first-round game moved from Waynesboro.
All of today's games start at 7 p.m.
LENGTH: Medium: 78 linesby CNB