THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 20, 1995 TAG: 9502200151
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
For Virginia to tie North Carolina at the top of the ACC, Harold Deane had to lead a comeback of grit and grace that saw the sophomore guard make all eight of his second-half field goal attempts, and then hit two free throws with 4.2 seconds on the clock.
Deane was everything you'd want in a point guard, in a leader. With the exception of Wake Forest senior Randolph Childress, there is no one in the ACC better with the ball when the clock is running down.
But while Deane's performance was eye-catching, so, in a different way, is the final line next to the name of North Carolina's Jerry Stackhouse: four field goals in 16 attempts, 13 points.
A bad day at the office for the future NBA lottery selection.
Said U.Va. forward Jason Williford, who covered Stackhouse most of the game, ``We frustrated him, I think.''
He might have added, again.
In the first meeting between the teams this season, a three-point North Carolina victory, Stackhouse was held to eight points on 2-of-13 shooting.
In two games against U.Va., Stackhouse, who came into Sunday averaging 19.4 points, has shot just 6 of 29.
``They dropped off and crowded the middle,'' Stackhouse explained after the game. ``But everybody's starting to do that.''
For all Deane's heroics, U.Va. wouldn't have had the horses to beat North Carolina had both Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace played up to their reputations.
Wallace up close and in person is an impressive specimen. His reach, combined with his athleticism, allows him to control a game on defense, sometimes without even blocking a shot.
Wallace had six blocks against U.Va., along with 23 points and 12 rebounds, and he made it all look very routine.
``It wasn't a lot of fun for me,'' said U.Va.'s Junior Burrough, who spent most of the day looking up at Wallace, or getting the ball slapped back in his face.
``I did the best I could against him,'' Burrough added. ``We did just enough to beat them, which is all you can ask against the No. 2 team in the country.''
A North Carolina victory would have pushed the Tar Heels back to No. 1 in the polls.
``None of us in here care about that,'' Stackhouse said.
Nor should the Tar Heels fret very long over the loss. When you consider what it took for U.Va. to pull this one out on its home court, the Tar Heels have no reason to think they won't rule the conference yet, if not during the regular season, then at the conclusion of the ACC Tournament.
``We're in good shape,'' Stackhouse said. ``Everybody out there played hard, and it comes down to a call at the end.''
In the Tar Heels' locker room, the call would not go away.
After U.Va. came back from a double-digit deficit with unconscious long-range shooting, North Carolina did the same, until the game came down to Deane driving on Wallace.
``I hit the ball,'' Wallace said, ``then it hit him and it went out of bounds.''
The whistle blew. There was a very short pause, about the length of time it would have taken official Zelton Steed to swallow hard.
``Everybody's going back down court, including the Virginia players,'' Wallace said, ``and then he called me for a foul.''
These things happen on the road.
``We gotta get that call here,'' said Williford. ``We're at home.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON, Staff
U.Va.'s Harold Deane delivered a gutsy performance, getting 28
points and two key free throws.
by CNB