THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 11, 1995 TAG: 9501110583
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Booker T. Washington boys basketball coach Barry Hamler is often given to fits of hyperbole.
But it was hard to do anything other than nod in agreement Tuesday night when he called senior forward Shawn Wilson the ``best all-around player in the state.''
Wilson scored 38 points and hit seven of the team's 12 3-pointers in leading the second-ranked Bookers past No. 10 Atlantic Shores Christian, 95-67.
The 38 points were a career-high for Wilson and the most scored by a South Hampton Roads player this season. He also grabbed 10 rebounds.
In one memorable sequence, Wilson blocked a shot in the lane by Atlantic Shores' 6-7 Kenny Inge and raced down court to hit a 3-pointer.
``I didn't know I was going to shoot that many threes tonight,'' Wilson said. ``Usually when I miss one coach takes me out. But tonight they were going in.''
Wilson almost singlehandedly buried Atlantic Shores after the Seahawks had climbed out of a big, early hole to get within 34-30 with 2:50 left in the first half.
Wilson scored eight consecutive points on two 3-pointers and a dunk off a feed from Ashley Berry to ignite a 12-0 run. The Seahakws committed three turnovers and missed four shots in that decisive stretch.
Wilson got offensive support from guards Kenny Brown and Berry, who scored 15 points each and combined for five 3-pointers.
``We didn't get back on defense and when we did we didn't pick up the right people,'' Atlantic Shores point guard Brandon Wynn said.
The Seahawks' defensive woes could have been a carryover from their struggles on offense, coach Mark Phelps said.
Atlantic Shores (13-4) hit only four of its first 18 field goal attempts and shot 31.3 percent for the game.
``Our press bothered them,'' Hamler said. ``We're quick, have decent size and anticipate well.''
The Bookers' played a matchup zone in the halfcourt with the guards sagging on Inge and 6-7 Damon Thornton. Inge scored 20 points and Thornton 14, but much of that came on stickbacks. Inge grabbed a game-high 22 rebounds and Thornton had 16. by CNB