THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 2, 1995 TAG: 9503020622
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Hampton prevented a South Hampton Roads showdown for the Eastern Region girls basketball championship by squeezing past Churchland, 40-37, in a semifinal game Wednesday night at Churchland.
The victory advanced the Crabbers (23-4) into the region title game Friday night against unbeaten Kempsville (27-0). All four of Hampton's losses were to Menchville, an 83-56 loser to Kempsville in the other semifinal.
Both finalists get state tournament berths.
It was a night when Churchland (20-6) couldn't make a basket in the paint and had to rely on 3-point shooting and defense to stay in it.
A layup by Hampton junior forward Catrina Fennell with 55 seconds left gave the Crabbers a 38-37 edge. Two free throws by Waynetta Veney with one second to play tucked the victory away.
Although Churchland made only 13 of 56 shots from the field and just 5 of 12 free throws, the Truckers had a last-gasp opportunity to win.
Churchland, down by one with 11 seconds remaining, inbounded the ball but couldn't get off a shot as the Crabbers got a turnover with stifling defense.
``We wanted to get it inside quickly and either score or draw a foul,'' said Churchland coach Duke Conrad. ``It's a play we work on constantly but we didn't get into good enough position.
``But the game never should have come down to that. We missed a half-dozen layups and so many easy shots it was unbelievable.
``When we came back from five down in the last quarter and pulled even, I felt we would win. But we came up short at the finish.''
Veney, who scored 82 points in Hampton's last three games, led all scorers with 21 points.
``It was a sloppy game,'' she said. ``But we won and that's all that counts.
``I knew Churchland would be double-teaming me and their defense was tough. I was really fatigued at the finish. Tired and happy.''
Churchland's inside game evaporated for the first time this year. Six of the Truckers' 13 field goals were 3-pointers, four by Nicole Council and a pair by Kizzy Butler.
In the second quarter Churchland made only one field goal in 16 attempts - and that was a 3-pointer by Council. But the Truckers toughened at the outset of the final quarter, rallying from a 32-27 deficit and holding the Crabbers scoreless for nearly four minutes.
Churchland gained the lead, 37-36, with 3:17 to play on a 3-pointer by Butler, who made on only four of 22 shots from the field. But the Truckers didn't score again.
Council led Churchland's scoring with 14 points on 5-for-17 shooting. Butler added 10. The Truckers' other guard, Summer Speidell, who was hurt in a spill in Churchland's first-round victory over Princess Anne, played despite a black eye and 24 stitches on her face.
HAMPTON (23-4): Veney 21, Bailey 6, Gilliam 0, Fennell 5, Lassiter 6,Jones 0, Palmer 2, Washington 0. Totals 17 3-4 40.
CHURCHLAND (20-6): Elliot 7, Council 14, Jarman 3, Speidell 1, Butler 10, Carroll 2, C. Hundley 0, S. Hundley 0. Totals 13 5-12 37.
Hampton 12 11 9 8 - 40
Churchland 11 4 12 10 - 37
3-point goals: Veney 3, Council 4, Butler 2. Total fouls: Hampton 11, Churchland 12. ILLUSTRATION: RICHARD L. DUNSTON/
Staff
Churchland's Kim Elliot works for a shot. She scored seven points,
but the Truckers hit just 13 of 56 field-goal tries.
by CNB