THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502220153
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
IT WAS A WEEK of firsts in the Eastern District as the regular season came to a close.
Lake Taylor captured championships in both girls basketball and wrestling, while Granby took the boys basketball title.
The Lady Titans got things going by clinching their first ever league crown.
But, watch out! Lake Taylor's Juritus Thompson is still pretty hot that her team was picked to finish dead last in the preseason.
She had better things in mind for the Titans before stepping on the court for her first varsity season.
The freshman point guard took things into her own hands and led the Titans to a 7-1 finish.
``I told you not to pick us last,'' Thompson yelled down the hall Friday night after the Titans dropped a 53-35 heart-breaker to Maury. It was Lake Taylor's first district loss.
Thompson said that despite a rough start, things came together just in time for league competition.
``At first, we couldn't make three shots in a row,'' she said. ``Now, it's a whole different team.
``Everybody put their hearts into it and we worked together. We complement each other.''
As the district's top seed, Lake Taylor has locked up a berth in the region tournament. This week's district tournament is for a matter of pride.
``All I can do is try my best and keep the team in it,'' Thompson said.
Friday night, the Lake Taylor boys took heed and kept themselves in it with a 78-65 victory over Maury.
The victory, which wrapped up fourth place and a spot in the district tournament, was the Titans' first over the Commodores since 1988.
By doing so, Lake Taylor also knocked Maury out of contention and handed the league crown to Granby.
It was Granby's first regular season title since 1976.
Tournament action continues Friday at 7:30 p.m.
When the district wrestling tourney got under way Saturday, the grapplers chalked up a few firsts of their own.
Lake Taylor coach Ken Whitley got his first title as the Titan head coach. This makes the third straight for Lake Taylor.
Individually, Lake Taylor's heavyweight Brad Vera became the Titans' only three-time champion, and Maury 140-pounder Lewis Wallace won his second crown.
The Bookers' tournament highlight came when freshman Duwyne Williams captured the title in the 160-pound division.
It was the first individual championship for Booker T. since 1989.
``I'm happy to win it,'' Williams said. ``I do what I have to do and get off the mat.''
Lake Taylor's Jimenez family left the mat with two golds and a silver.
Paul Jimenez upset Granby's Reuben Dio in the 103-division after losing to him twice during the regular season. At 130, Joel defended his title by pinning Granby's Daymen Robinson. Donnie Jimenez (112) had to settle for second after Granby's Reuben Waites scored on a take down in overtime.
Though he sat out first semester, Maury's Orlando Morton, a state place winner last year, was in top form and pinned Granby's Antoine Prince at the 1:52 mark.
Lake Taylor, Granby, and Maury each had 13 wrestlers qualify for the Region tournament which begins tonight at Oscar Smith. Booker T. Washington placed seven and Norview had four.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class advanced. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PATTI WALSH
From left, Shnaka Walker, coach Teresa Jones, Juritus Thompson, Ray
Ray Johnson, Felicia Miller, Tasha Thompson of the Eastern District
champion Lake Taylor High School girls basketball team.
Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Maury's Lewis Wallace (bottom) won his second district title.
Ricardo Trevisain and Granby soared to the Eastern District title.
by CNB