THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 9, 1996 TAG: 9607090350
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: 40 lines
Sure there were a couple of nice set plays, a little tough defense and some cagey strategy, but does anybody really care about that kind of stuff during something like the Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star boys basketball game?
So in that spirit, we'll dispense with the nuts and bolts and get right to the highlights from when East met West at the Hampton Coliseum Monday night.
TOP PERFORMER: Monday's game lacked the star power of the contests of recent years, but Kecoughtan's Marcelles Brown almost single-handedly made up for the lack of certified blue-chippers with a dazzling all-around game. Using his lethal hesitation cross-over dribble, Brown froze West guard Mark Bressan before exploding to the hoop for a layup on one first-quarter possession. The next time down the court, he paralyzed Bressan with his dribble again, then pulled up and drained a three-pointer. He finished with a game-high 28 points, including four three-pointers, and was named the East's MVP. Laurel Park's Rashad Wall took the honors for the West.
BEST DUNK: Midway through the second quarter, the West's Aaron Demory took a feed on the right block, spun past Southampton's Shawn Tann, did a 360 and powered the ball home over Tann and Lakeland's John Ricks.
SHOT OF THE NIGHT: With one second remaining before halftime, Ricks took a pass just beyond the halfcourt line and calmly swished a three-pointer to cut the West's lead to 48-42 at the break.
TOUGH NIGHT: Plaxico Burress, who seemed to have trouble gripping the ball, missed two dunks, had a layup attempt swatted away by the West's 6-6 Roland Roberts and bobbled perhaps Brown's sweetest pass out of bounds while standing alone under the basket. But to Burress' credit, he never let his offensive woes affect the rest of his game and contributed several strong plays at the other end, including one in which he hurled himself on the ground to save an East possession.
LOCAL REPORT: Tann finished with 11 points. Ricks and Burress added five each. Other South Hampton Roads' players' point totals: Tallwood's Rian Everett, 7, Nansemond River's Montoria Valentine, 5.
OH, BY THE WAY: Final score: East 101, West 93. by CNB