THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 6, 1995 TAG: 9503060126
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON AND JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Richmond's starting lineup Sunday featured three freshmen, a sophomore and senior Kass Weaver. Two of their first five reserves were freshmen, a fact that had Spiders coach Bill Dooley already looking forward to next season.
``These guys made significant strides this season,'' said Dooley, who remained on the Richmond Coliseum floor applauding his players as they came off the court. ``They learned to play hard, with intensity, and that's half the battle in college basketball.''
When freshman point guard Carlos Cueto fouled out late in the game, Dooley patted him on the back as he sat down, then gently rubbed his head as Cueto covered his face with a towel.
``I'm encouraged for the future,'' Dooley said. ``I'm very proud of these guys. If you saw us play Campbell in the first game, you know what I mean. We played in Arizona, at Villanova, had some tough losses, but hung in there. We played tough.''
SHARPSHOOTERS: Six members of the media covering the CAA tournament converted their only attempt at a three-point basket and won $1,000 checks for their favorite charity, courtesy of Contel Cellular.
Scoring were were Mike Dillar of WTKR-TV (Jimmy V Foundation); Scott Cash of WVEC-TV (Candii House); Rick Stoss of Richmond's WWBT-TV (Virginia Home for Boys); Mike Martine of WAVY-TV (Valley Forge Military Academy); John O'Connor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Lung Cancer Research) and Tony White of the Richmond Afro-American (Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs).
WEARY MONARCHS: Petey Sessoms and David Harvey both played 45 minutes Sunday as Old Dominion was involved in a physically draining game for the second consecutive night.
Tonight, ODU will be trying to get into the NCAA tournament for just the sixth time in the program's 19 seasons in Division I, and the first time since 1992. While tournament time usually means bedlam, the Monarchs seemed to be thinking only about getting to bed after their overtime defeat of American in a CAA semifinal.
``We just want to get back to the hotel, get something to eat and get some rest,'' ODU's Mike Jones said. ``We're definitely going to need it. Hopefully we can recuperate and be ready for tomorrow.''
BUS TRIP: Old Dominion is sponsoring fan busses to tonight's championship game for $10 (game ticket not included). For information and to reserve a spot, call the athletic ticket office by noon at 683-4444. The bus will depart from the ODU field house at 4 p.m.
TIP-INS: American (9-19) would have had the worst record of any finalist in the CAA's 10 seasons had it beaten ODU. ... Duke guard Jeff Capel III, the son of ODU's coach, watched Saturday's game along with the rest of his family seated directly behind ODU's bench. ... Old Dominion has won four in a row and seven of its last eight. ... JMU has allowed an average of more than 20 offensive rebounds a game this season. ... Sessoms needs 51 points to supplant Anthony Carver as ODU's third all-time leading scorer. Sessoms has 1,908 points. ... Sunday's game was ODU's third overtime contest this season. The Monarchs are 2-1, with their only loss at Tulane in the first game after center Odell Hodge was lost for the season with torn knee ligaments. ... Mike Jones' 25 points moved him past Oliver Purnell and into 24th place on ODU's all-time list Sunday. Jones has 1,113 points. ... ODU was 3-3 in Monday games this season. by CNB