THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 5, 1997 TAG: 9702050702
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA McLEROY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 46 lines
The comeback of the season came up short.
Down by 14 points at the half, fourth-ranked Princess Anne pulled even with top-ranked Kempsville with 11 seconds remaining on a Shareese Grant field goal, but Carrie Heath made two free throws and Rayven Williamson made another as the Chiefs pulled out a 53-50 victory at Princess Anne High School.
The Cavaliers charged back in the second half behind the hot hands of Suawana Taylor and Okeshia Howard.
In the end, though, experience won out as the Chiefs' three seniors - Heath, Toni Patillo and Erin Duckett - came to the forefront.
The younger Cavaliers, conversely, committed two costly errors in the final eight seconds that climaxed a stunning fourth quarter.
With the victory, the Chiefs (18-1, 15-0) earned at least a share of the Beach District regular-season title.
``We just had to keep our heads together and work as a team,'' Duckett said. ``We had to make sure we didn't get panicky and stayed in control.''
The Chiefs entered the fourth quarter with a 39-31 lead, but unanswered baskets by Howard, Daminica Moody and Shameia Rodgers cut the gap to two. Duckett called a timeout, then Patillo scored to push the lead to 41-37.
Taylor scored, then Moody blocked a Heath shot attempt to put the Cavaliers in position to tie it.
Howard recovered a Kempsville turnover and raced full court to score a tying layup.
Patillo hit two key baskets, and Howard hit a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to preserve the tie at 46-46.
``I was just thinking never say die,'' Patillo said. ``My dad told me the fourth quarter is when you let everything hang out. We kept our composure and did what we had to do.''
Taylor, playing after missing seven days of practice with the flu, came up with key rebounds and worked to keep the inexperienced Cavaliers (14-3, 12-3) calm.
``It was very intense,'' she said. ``I was thinking to myself that I had to play a good game and settle everyone down. You can't make mistakes in the fourth quarter.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Kempsville's Maria Sciortino, left, battles Suawana Taylor, center
and Daminica Moody of Princess Anne for a rebound.