THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603030217
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: EMPORIA, VA. LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
If a team can stop Nansemond River's run at a second straight Group AA boys basketball title, it probably will not come from the Bay Rivers District.
The Warriors extended their winning streak to 21 games, 20 over Bay Rivers teams, with a 72-52 win over Lakeland to repeat as Region I champions Saturday night at Greensville County High School. Nansemond River (23-2) and Lakeland (17-8) each advance to the state quarterfinals Saturday. The Warriors, region champions for the fourth time in six years, will play the Region II runner-up at Lakeland, while the Cavaliers will be on the road to face the Region II champion.
The Warriors, who beat the Cavaliers for the fifth time this season, jumped on Lakeland early in the first quarter, going on a 13-3 run to start the game. LaShaun Pugh and Montoria Valentine had four each, while Maurice Fofana hit a 3-pointer and Antoine Willie added a jumper as Lakeland made only 4 of 14 field goals in the first quarter.
``We try to get control of the tempo, get control of the game early,'' said Pugh, who finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. ``They wanted to slow it down and we wanted to keep running and keep the pressure on.''
Lakeland rebounded to hit nine of 13 shots in the second quarter and cut it to six when John Ricks hit two foul shots with 4:10 left until halftime. Willie hit a 15-footer and a trey and Vernon Woodson added a layup at the buzzer to make it 37-28 at the half.
At start of the second half, the Warriors forced five turnovers and went on a 12-2 run to all but seal it. Valentine's layup on an assist from Pugh made it 49-30 with 4:20 left in the third.
``We came in with the same game plan,'' said Fofana, who finished with 12 assists. ``We play good defense and our offense comes.''
Ricks led Lakeland with 24 points, 17 in the first half. Damon Tillery, who finished with 11, was the only other Cavalier in double figures.
``They beat us on the boards and we made silly turnovers,'' said Ricks, whose team was outrebounded 40-32 and committed 20 turnovers.
Willie scored a game-high 28 for the Warriors, while Valentine had 16 points and 10 assists.
NANSEMOND RIVER (23-2): Fofana 5, Pugh 15, Willie 28, Jones 4, K. Riddick 0, Skinner 2, Valentine 16, R. White 2, Wilson 0, Woodson 0. Totals: 31 6-9 72.
LAKELAND (17-8): Wilson 1, Pruden 2, Kiesow 0, Baker 3, Knight 6, Cross 5, Ricks 24, Tillery 11, Barden 0, Everett 0. Totals: 20 11-20 52.
Lakeland 11 17 7 17 - 52
Nansemond River 18 19 16 19 - 72
3-point goals: Willie 3, Fofana, Cross. Total fouls: Lakeland 12, Nansemond River 18. Fouled out: Jones. by CNB