THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 3, 1996 TAG: 9601030545
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Fifth-ranked and unbeaten Atlantic Shores needed the best shooting quarter of Joey Higginbotham's life to hold off Norview 52-49 Tuesday night in its only game against a Group AAA opponent this season.
Higginbotham, a senior point guard, hit 5 of 6 3-point attempts in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner from the top of the key with eight seconds left.
Norview (6-4) had rallied from a five-point deficit with 1:35 left to tie the score on a driving layup by Andrey Jones with 23 seconds to play. Atlantic Shores (10-0) called time-out with 15.5 seconds left and set up a play to go inside to either 6-8 Kenny Inge or 6-7 Damon Thornton.
Thornton received a pass in the key and turned to drive the lane only to have the ball knocked away. Higginbotham retrieved it, dribbled once and fired.
``As Dick Vitale says, `nothing but the bottom of the net,' '' said Norview coach Darnell Miller. ``That's a hard way to lose.''
But an exhilarating way to win.
``I saw the ball lying on the floor and wasn't sure how much time was left,'' Higginbotham said. ``I had an open shot and I was feeling it.''
Norview still had a chance to tie, but Jones' 3-point attempt hit the front of the rim and the ball caromed into the corner as time expired. Jones led all scorers with 21 and made three 3-pointers.
Norview played an aggressive 2-3 zone, doubling down when the ball went inside to Inge and Thornton. They combined for only 17 points, six in the second half.
But Higginbotham and Chris Jackson, who hit two 3-pointers, foiled the strategy.
``After I hit the first one I just wanted to keep shooting,'' Higginbotham said.
Norview's plan offensively was to challenge Inge and Thornton inside and the Pilots had eight shots blocked. But their quickness also produced some easy layups and they took the biggest lead by either team at 26-14.
Atlantic Shores cut the margin to 30-25 at halftime, but still trailed by five entering the fourth quarter and by seven with seven minutes to go.
Then Higginbotham got hot. He hit consecutive 3-pointers, one from NBA range, to spark an 11-0 run. Inge followed his own miss to give the Seahawks their first lead since 3-0 and Higginbotham followed with another trey from the left corner that made it 44-40 with 3:54 left. ILLUSTRATION: MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN
The Virginian-Pilot
Damon Thornton draws praise after helping Atlantic Shores slip by
Norview to stay unbeaten.
by CNB