THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 17, 1996 TAG: 9601170475
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Third-ranked Indian River turned up the defensive pressure against Churchland on Tuesday night and left the struggling Truckers looking like a bunch of coyotes at a roadrunner convention.
Jason Capel led five players in double figures with 21 points as the Braves rolled to their fifth consecutive victory, 102-61. Indian River forced 29 turnovers, most of which were clean steals.
The Braves scored 26 points off 18 turnovers in racing to a 48-25 halftime lead and the Truckers came no closer than 19 the rest of the way.
Indian River (9-3, 5-1) attacked the ball from all angles and all positions on the court. When Churchland was fortunate enough to beat the traps at halfcourt, the Braves continued to swarm the ball in their halfcourt defense.
``It looked like they were sending three guys at the ball and covering four of our guys with their other two,'' Churchland coach Mac Carroll said. ``They are just so athletic.''
Indian River coach Freddie Spellman called it the Braves' best defensive effort of the season.
``That's our regular defense and it's just been a matter of the guys learning to work together,'' he said. ``I've been telling them they were one step away from a steal or a tip, and tonight we were there.''
Terry Rouse made six steals and scored 14 points.
``Most of the time they were telegraphing their passes,'' Rouse said. ``We anticipated well, and that's why we got so many steals.''
Freshman Antwan Stukes scored a career-high 18 points and had five steals. James Boyd added 12 points and David Selby 11 for the Braves. Jason Lewis led Churchland with 20.
Indian River blew the game open with a 14-0 run late in the second quarter, fueled by 3-pointers from Boyd, Stukes and Doug Basnight. Fouling the Braves, often a safe option, proved no restraint as they knocked down 30 of 36 free throws.
With the victory safely in hand, Indian River turned the fourth quarter into showtime. The Braves threw down five dunks, including an alley-oop from the 6-foot-7 Capel to the 5-11 Selby that captured the essence of what makes this team special.
``They have so many weapons,'' said Carroll, repeating a phrase from the recent past often used to describe his teams.
Churchland won 46 games over the past two seasons but is now 4-7 and has lost five in a row. Two of those defeats were to No. 1 Maury by 14 and 12 points.
``Is Indian River better than Maury?'' asked Churchland's Dion Langley, a four-year starter. ``Yeah, they're the team to beat, straight up.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Indian River's James Boyd leaves Churchland's Patrick Dulin in his
wake in the Braves' 102-61 romp.
by CNB