THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230487
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
The streak is over.
Booker T. Washington's string of 12 consecutive Eastern Region tournament appearances came to an end Wednesday night when Maury beat the Bookers, 69-66 in overtime, in an Eastern District semifinal game at Lake Taylor.
Shaun Jackson's two free throws with 10 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Commodores a 3-point cushion and Ashley Berry's desperation 3-point attempt with time running out bounced off the back rim.
Jackson's success at the foul line was sweet redemption. The 6-foot-7 Maury standout had gone 4-for-16 from the free throw line five days earlier in a 78-65 loss to Lake Taylor that cost the Commodores a shot at the Eastern District regular-season title.
``I couldn't help but think about last week,'' Jackson said. ``But Craig (Coleman) was working with me in practice and before the game. I was taking my time and concentrating more.''
The victory puts Maury (17-5) in the Eastern Region tournament for the 10th time in 11 years. The Commodores will meet Peninsula District regular-season champion Menchville (16-6) next Tuesday in the quarterfinals.
But first, Maury will battle Granby Friday in the district tournament final at Lake Taylor.
``The streak might be over,'' Bookers coach Barry Hamler said. ``But we still have more regional tournament appearances than anyone in the state. We'll get the streak started again next year.''
The Bookers have made 20 of the 28 Eastern Region tournaments.
This Booker T. edition, however, had experienced a late-season swoon heading into the district tournament, losing four of their last five. But on Wednesday the Bookers closely resembled the squad that won 13 of its first 15.
Shawn Wilson finished with a team-high 19 points and Dewayne Jacobs scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
A pushoff foul on Jacobs, however, proved costly near the end of regulation. After Jackson missed a short jumper, Wilson grabbed the rebound and Jackson and Jacobs got tangled up in the lane. Jacobs was called for throwing an elbow as they separated.
Jackson hit two free throws for a 61-59 lead with 1:21 remaining.
``(Jackson) hits Dewayne and Dewayne knocks his hand away and gets called for the foul,'' Hamler said. ``It was the key to the game.''
Wilson scored on a slashing drive to the basket with 1:05 remaining to tie it and the Commodores attempted to hold for the last shot. But Tommy Spruill, who finished with 16 points, turned it over on a wild pass along the baseline with eight seconds left and Berry's running 35-foot bank shot as time expired didn't fall.
In overtime, Booker T. (14-7) took a 66-65 lead with 54 seconds remaining when Berry hit the front end of a one-and-one. But Ike Richardson scored with 32 seconds left to give Maury a 67-66 edge.
When Berry missed a 16-foot jumper at the other end, Ray Heard grabbed the rebound and Wilson was forced to foul Jackson with 10 seconds left.
Richardson finished with 18 points and six assists and limited Booker T.'s Kenny Brown to five points, tying Brown's season-low. When Brown fouled out in overtime, Richardson switched to Berry. He forced a five-second turnover with 1:35 left and had a hand in Berry's face on the final shot.
``I thought it may have been Ike's best game of the year,'' Maury coach Jack Baker said. ``He had no dumb fouls and he did a good job on Kenny.''
Jackson, who had 12 rebounds, finished 7-for-10 from the line and made his last six free throws.
``He was a 65 percent foul shooter before the other night,'' Baker said. ``We just talked about it Monday in practice and worked on the fundamentals.'' by CNB