THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 29, 1997 TAG: 9701290679
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 48 lines
He would later admit that the intent of his 30-foot heave in the garbage-time final seconds was ``to just throw it up there.''
But the ball approached the rim as though guided by radar, then ripped through the nets with the force of a championship diver entering the water.
It was that kind of night for Indian River's David Selby.
The smooth-stroking senior poured in a career-high 34 points as the Braves, ranked fifth in South Hampton Roads, outdueled No. 6 Deep Creek 69-60 at Indian River to maintain sole possession of first place in the Southeastern District.
Indian River (10-5, 8-2) is now a game in front of Nansemond River in the district race. The Hornets (10-5, 6-4), losers of three of their last four, fell two games behind the Braves.
Selby scored 24 of his points in the second half when the 6-0 guard went 9 of 13 from the field to help the Braves erase a three-point halftime deficit.
``Selby kind of took over and we didn't have an answer,'' Deep Creek coach Benny Polk said.
But Indian River coach Freddie Spellman reserved equal praise for James Boyd, the soon-to-be Penn State football signee. Boyd was the key in turning the Hornets' 6-5 Arnie Powell from first-half force (10 points, nine rebounds) to second-half non-factor (four points, three shots, three rebounds).
Spellman, apparently reasoning that if Boyd's defense is good enough for Joe Paterno it should be good enough to stop Powell, went with a triangle-and-two defense in the second half and used the 6-0 Boyd to front Powell in the low post.
The tactic worked perfectly and the Hornets spent most of the second half unable to even get the ball in the hands of their most effective offensive weapon.
``I was pushing on him a little, and I could tell he was getting frustrated,'' Boyd said.
A Selby steal and a layup a minute into the second half triggered a 9-2 Indian River run that gave the Braves the lead for good. The Hornets closed to within one on a Javon Artis layup with 5:17 left in the fourth quarter, but made only two more field goals the rest of the way.
``Defense is always the key for us,'' Spellman said. ``It's a team concept, guys looking for each, helping each other. Our thing has got to be defense, because we don't have a lot of size.''
The Braves pulled away down the stretch with key baskets from Selby, Boyd and Antwan Stukes.
The Braves have now won six of their last seven after a 4-4 start.