THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 29, 1994 TAG: 9412290559
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Given all the variables, Atlantic Shores is a new team in many aspects.
With a new coach and an influx of talented public school athletes, the Seahawks have set goals to improve every day and finish in the top eight in the state poll at the end of the season - securing a first round home game in the state private schools tournament.
In its own Holiday Prep Classic Wednesday, Atlantic Shores set up its biggest test of the season in tonight's championship game with a 53-37 victory over Langley.
The Seahawks - ranked No. 3 - will face second-ranked Flint Hill in the title game.
But Atlantic Shores will have to play considerably better if it plans to stay on the court with the hard-pressing Huskies.
``Actually, if you saw last night's game (a 71-52 victory over Word of God), you realize that we really did play better tonight,'' Seahawks coach Mark Phelps said. ``We're a young team that has really never been together.
``So, we're just trying to take little steps along the way and as long as I see progress, I'm happy.''
The key for Atlantic will be to get its 6-foot-7 twin towers to have good outings on the same night. In its opener, Kenny Inge had 20 points. Damon Thornton had 12. In Wednesday's victory, Thornton finished with a game-high 19, while Inge went scoreless - watching much of the contest from the bench with four fouls.
Thornton got eight of his points on gym-rattling dunks.
Langley used a pesky defense - much like Atlantic Shores will see from Flint Hill - to slow down the Seahawks running game.
Even so, Atlantic Shores managed to pull away to a 29-16 halftime lead that was increased to 18 points at the end of the third period.
FLINT HILL 72, ROCK 51
The Huskies pressure defense and patient offense proved to be too much for the Eagle - who trailed by only four points midway through the third period. But a six-minute 14-3 run that lasted from the end of the third an into the fourth put the game out of reach.
Flint Hill was led by shooting guard Josh Stringer's 20 points - including four straight 3-pointers to open the contest. Chris Larson added 15, while Jamar Betz had 14 and Jim Fitzpatrick 13.
Rock was led by Emil Greene's 18 and Terrance Jones' 17.
CARDINAL GIBBONS 65, GEORGETOWN PREP 60
Cardinal Gibbons guard Dee Tolliver had a second-straight even with the hot hand, racking up 36 points to go with his 24 in the first round. Tolliver hit five 3-pointers to go with the three he had in an 80-71 loss to Flint Hill.
Terrance Willoughby helped the cause with 12 points - including two 3-pointers - and 10 assists.
Georgetown Prep got 12 points each from Brendan Manfreda, Jay King and Andrew Blume.
WORD OF GOD 70, NORFOLK COLLEGIATE 46
Word of God forward Tim Boone heads into tonight's third-place game as the tournament's leading scorer - edging Tolliver 63-60 - with a 37-point performance that included two 3-pointers. by CNB