THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 29, 1995 TAG: 9509270169
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
ALTHOUGH THEY WERE late getting there and the tournament was canceled before it was completed, Prop 48, a team of Indian River High School students, brought a national championship back to Chesapeake by winning their age group and division at the 1995 Triple Crown National 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament in Denver, Colo., earlier this month.
The four-man squad of sophomore Marcellus Scott and seniors Rudie Worlds, Rod Curry and Robert Freeman earned the trip to Denver by winning a local qualifier in Norfolk and a regional tournament in Richmond.
Throughout the competition, from Norfolk to Denver, the team never lost a game.
Getting to the tournament proved to be a test of the team's will. Prop 48 left Chesapeake on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 2, but their plane was delayed in Atlanta, forcing Triple Crown to reschedule their games to later in the day.
Once they got to Denver, Prop 48 rushed to get to their hotel and out to the tournament site. The hotel bus could only take four people, so the team's chaperones - Marcellus Scott, Sr. and Roger Worlds - made the next trip in.
``We played our first game and had a close call - we only won 20-18,'' said Rudie Worlds. ``We were tired, rushing.''
The altitude was a problem.
``Denver is a real beautiful city, but we got tired quick in every game,'' said Curry.
``We're in real good shape, but we were getting tired at 4-5 points instead of 14-15,'' Worlds said.
The team won its pool of 16 teams Saturday to advance to Sunday's playoffs. In one game, Prop 48 found itself trailing, 14-4.
``We were down by 10 points, and whoever gets to 20 first wins,'' said Freeman, a member of the Indian River varsity basketball team. ``We called a timeout and I said `Come on, fellas. Turn it up.' We got on our defense and came back to win.''
With the team surging, Prop 48 won its sixth straight game at the tournament and seemed headed for a spot in the finals.
Then the tournament fell apart. Because of several fights between teams and spectators, Denver police canceled the championship games and sent everyone home.
Triple Crown awarded Prop 48 the national title because the team had the best record in their group.
``They were fighting over stupid stuff, players fighting people in the stands. The police had to cancel it because it was getting out of hand,'' said Worlds.
Curry had mixed feelings about not competing for the title.
``It bothered me because I really wanted to play,'' he said. ``But I felt we'd have won the championship anyway. I can't say we were the best team there, but we worked really hard.''
For their efforts, each member of the team received a trophy, shirt and shorts from Triple Crown. According to Worlds, Triple Crown is arranging a world championship 3-on-3 basketball tournament to be held later this year in Seattle, and Prop 48 should get an invitation. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Rudie Worlds, Robert Freeman and Rod Curry were three of the Indian
River High School students to compete in the 3-on-3 tournament.
The Indian River High team won its division.
by CNB