THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 25, 1996 TAG: 9601250179
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: JAMI FRANKENBERRY
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
CLIPPERS WIN: The Lake Kennedy Clippers, a boys basketball team made up of 14- to 17-year-olds from Suffolk, won a tournament for the first time in the squad's five-year existence last month.
The Clippers defeated W.W. Houston 79-66 in a semifinal before edging Roberts Village 93-90 in the championship of the Colonial Boys and Girls Club Holiday tournament in Norfolk.
``When that buzzer went off it was like winning the NBA championship and the state high school tournament,'' said Clippers coach Michael White. ``It was a grand feeling.''
The Clippers' Dointwain Stephenson was named tournament MVP and David Wethington was selected to the all-tournament team.
``Coach told us that he's been coaching five years and never won a tournament,'' said Stephenson, 17. ``We just cut out the horseplaying and got more serious.''
The Clippers, who are 8-1 this season, will play their next tournament during the first week of February.
WARRIORS WRESTLING: The Nansemond River wrestling team's 35-31 win over Lakeland last week puts the Warriors at 3-0 in the Bay Rivers District, tied with Group AA powerhouse Poquoson.
But coach Doug Dohey isn't satisfied. ``We had some tight losses through the middle weight classes so those guys need to work harder before we're ready for Poquoson,'' said Dohey, whose team hosts the Islanders Feb. 7. ``We can't put the pressure on our upper weights like we did against Lakeland.''
HOT CHARGERS: Isle of Wight Academy's boys basketball team is rolling, having won 10 of its last 11 for a 13-2 record. The Chargers also earned a No. 5 ranking in Virginia Independent Schools poll this week.
``We have five seniors and the experience they have certainly helps,'' said Isle of Wight coach Benny Vaughn, whose team went 12-12 last season. ``We're playing with a little more poise and confidence this year.''
Isle of Wight can avenge an early-season loss to Tidewater Academy, which is ranked No. 9, when it hosts Tidewater tomorrow at 7:45 p.m.
Senior point guard Richard Spady leads the Chargers with 15.7 points and 5.7 assists per game.
OVER 30 HOOPS: Melvin Eley scored 18 points and Darrell Wiggins added nine in a 38-27 win over the Deacons to improve Kirk Lumber's record to 6-0 in the IOW 30 and Over basketball league last week.
SCHEDULE CHANGES: The Blizzard of '96 is still taking its toll on area high school schedules because several schools' exam schedules changed. Here are more changes: The Lakeland boys basketball game at Smithfield (originally Jan. 12) is now Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; the Cavaliers' game against Southampton (originally Jan. 30) has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Lakeland at 7:30; the Lakeland volleyball game against Smithfield (originally Feb. 1) has moved to Feb. 7 at Lakeland at 7:30; and the Nansemond River volleyball game against Southampton (originally Jan. 9) is now Saturday at 2:30 p.m. MEMO: The Sports Editor's notebook will appear each Thursday, highlighting
high school and community sports. Coaches may call 934-7557 with ideas. by CNB