THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412100396
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
The Portsmouth/Suffolk TipOff Classic wasn't designed to have a champion. But Nansemond River or Churchland can claim the mythical crown tonight.
Nansemond River edged Norcom, 65-62, and Churchland defeated Lakeland, 68-61, in Friday's opening games at Churchland.
The tournament was set up with the Portsmouth and Suffolk schools alternating opponents.
Norcom and Lakeland play tonight at 6 with Churchland and Nansemond River to follow.
Nansemond River dedicated its win to junior forward Montorian Valentine, whose mother died on Wednesday. He did not play.
Lashaun Pugh scored 16 points, all in the first half, to pace four Warriors in double figures. Randell White and Antione Willie each had 14 and James Parker scored 10.
Michael Ponds, coming off the bench and winning himself a starting assignment, topped Norcom with 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Victor Johnson chipped in 11 and the Greyhounds were planning to go to him with a possible game-tying 3-pointer in the waning seconds.
With seven seconds left, Norcom called time out and coach Tony Holloway indicated Johnson would take the shot if he was open. However a cross-court pass was deflected off a player's knee and Norcom lost the ball.
The Greyhounds played without one starter who was suspended for a game and had only limited action from top scorer Torrence Oxendine, who had three fouls in the first eight minutes and spent nearly half the game on the bench.
Oxendine triggered a late-game comeback by Norcom with seven points before fouling out with 30 seconds to play.
Nansemond River reserve Reginald Holloman contributed only six points. But he made a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a 3-point lead with 3:08 to go and had a steal, producing a lay-in that gave Nansemond River its final decisive basket.
In the second game, Churchland went in front to stay at 6-5. The Cavaliers pulled within 62-61 with 46 seconds left.
D.J. Dunbar, The Virginian-Pilot/Ledger-Star player of the year last season, then took charge and scored Churchland's last six points.
Dunbar took game-scoring honors with 26. He made 9 of 18 shots, including one 3-pointer and 7 of 9 free throws.
Sebastian Yates registered 23 for Lakeland, 18 in the second half.
``We played good in spots but I didn't feel it was a very good overall effort,'' said Churchland coach Mac Carroll, whose Truckers are the area's No. 3 ranked team.
``We were 3 of 15 on 3-pointers.''
A vital contribution was eight points from reserve Jason Lewis, including six in the fourth quarter. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by GARY C. KNAPP
James Parker of Nansemond River tries to a block shot by Norcom's
Jamal Price Friday night in the Portsmouth/Suffolk TipOff Classic at
Churchland.
by CNB