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CAVE SPRING BEATS NEW KENT, ADVANCE TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
March, 9, 2010
-Staff Report
Josh Henderson scored 31 points and pulled down 22 rebounds and teammate Clay Lacy had 22 points and 11 rebounds as the Cave Spring Knights beat New Kent Trojans 71-59 Tuesday afternoon in the Virginia High School League Group AA Division 3 basketball semifinal's in Richmond.
Mark Overstreet and Adam Hager also scored nine points each for Cave Spring.
The Knights now stand at 24-4 and will next play Brunswick for their second straight state title on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
VIKINGS FALL SHORT AGAINST BRUNSWICK
March 9, 2010
-Staff Report
Casey Walker scored a career high 37 points including 16 free throws and had 10 rebounds, to lead the Brunswick Bulldogs to a 67-58 win over the Northside Vikings Tuesday evening in the Group AA Division 3 seim-finals in Richmond.
Brunswick (24-3) will next play Cave Spring for the state championship on Saturday at the Seigel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Trey Smith led the Vikings with 22 points. And Stevan Ritchie had 13 points and eight rebounds.
But Northside only shot 33% from the floor. The Vikings were also outrebounded 45-35.
Northside finished the season at 24-3.
Terps Claim Share Of ACC Crown
March 6, 2010
AP
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Greivis Vasquez scored 23 points, and No. 22 Maryland made the most of a late technical foul on Virginia coach Tony Bennett to withstand a spirited comeback in a 74-68 victory over the Cavaliers on Saturday.
The Terrapins (23-7, 13-3 ACC) clinched at least a tie for the conference regular season title after the Cavaliers, playing without suspended scoring leader Sylven Landesberg, cut a 12-point deficit to one with under a minute remaining.
With his team trailing 66-65, Bennett was whistled for a technical after he peeled off his jacket in anger following a foul call. Vasquez made both free throws, and Sean Mosley hit two more - all with 38.6 seconds left - as the Terps held on.
Jerome Meyinsse led Virginia (14-15, 5-11) with 17 points in his final home game.
Jeff Jones hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points, and Sammy Zeglinski had 14 as the Cavaliers made up for the absence of Landesberg, the sophomore star suspended for the rest of the season on Saturday for failing to meet his academic responsibilities.
They almost avoided their ninth straight loss without him.
Maryland led 53-41 after Adrian Bowie answered a 3-pointer by Jones with one of his own with 12:18 left, but the Cavaliers scored the next seven points, capped by Meyinsse's dunk.
Dino Gregory's free throw gave the Terps a 54-48 lead, but Jones and Vasquez traded 3-pointers before Jones hit another from deep, pulling Virginia to 57-54 with 5:50 remaining.
Hayes' driving basket pushed Maryland's lead back to five. After Meyinsse hit a pair of free throws, Vasquez hit the first of back-to-back 3-pointers, the first one answered by Will Sherrill for Virginia, giving the Terps a 65-59 lead, but Virginia kept coming.
Meyinsse scored on a baby hook with 3:09 left, and after Jordan Williams' free throw for Maryland, Mustapha Farrakhan made a layup and then fed Sherrill for another after a Maryland turnover, pulling the Cavaliers to 66-65 and setting up the controversial finish.
Hayes added 11 points and Mosley 10 for Maryland.
Maryland led 21-9 after 8 1/2 minutes and had outrebounded the Cavaliers 14-1. Virginia finally found some rhythm offensively, pulling within 28-20, but a 10-4 run by the Terps allowed them to push their lead to 38-24 before Zeglinski closed the half with a 3-pointer.
March 6, 2010
AP
DURHAM, N.C. - Kyle Singler scored 19 of his 25 points in the decisive first half and No. 4 Duke routed North Carolina 82-50 on Saturday night.
Jon Scheyer had 20 points in his final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium for the Blue Devils (26-5, 13-3), who earned their most lopsided home win over their fiercest rival.
They shot nearly 46 percent - 51 percent in a dominant first half - and made eight 3-pointers in beating North Carolina at home for the first time since 2005. Duke clinched a share of its 12th Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title and wrapped up the No. 1 seed in next week's league tournament.
Freshman John Henson matched a season high with 14 points for the Tar Heels (16-15, 5-11). They endured their worst loss in seven years and had their lowest point total under coach Roy Williams.
Nolan Smith scored 20 points and Brian Zoubek added 13 rebounds for the Blue Devils. They took command with an early 31-8 run, led by 30 in the first half and showed no mercy in polishing off their first sweep of North Carolina since 2004.
Thompson finished with 11 points for the Tar Heels, who were serenaded by chants of "NIT" throughout and played without freshman guard Leslie McDonald after team officials said he strained his right hamstring during Friday's practice.
March 6
George Henry - AP
ATLANTA (AP)-Malcolm Delaney tied a season high with 32 points and Jeff Allen had 17 points with 10 rebounds to help Virginia Tech win its second straight game with an 88-82 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday.
The Hokies (23-7, 10-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) are assured of a first-round bye in the league tournament next week in Greensboro, N.C. They stayed in a tie for fourth with Florida State.
Georgia Tech (19-11, 7-9) has lost two straight and five of seven to put itself in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in 10 seasons under coach Paul Hewitt.
A foot injury to Virginia Tech guard Dorenzo Hudson kept the Hokies' second-leading scorer on the bench in street clothes as he missed his first game in three seasons.
Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors scored 18 apiece as the Yellow Jackets finished below .500 in the ACC regular season for the sixth straight year.
Guilford Holds Off John Carroll
March 6, 2010
Courtesy-Guilford Athletics
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Clay Henson scored a game-high 27 points to lead Guilford College past John Carroll University, 85-82, in the second round of the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament Saturday night.
Guilford (28-2) advances to the tournament's sectional round for the third time in four years where it will face the College of Wooster. Wooster defeated the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 87-78, Saturday in a second-round game. The sectional site will be announced online Sunday, March 7.
The Blue Streaks (21-7) fell behind by 17 points with 14:59 left in the second half, before rallying to take a 77-74 lead with 4:11 remaining in the game on a Corey Shontz three-pointer. Shontz' basket capped a 9-0 John Carroll run that took less than a minute and included three-pointers by Rudy Kirbus and Joey Meyer.
The teams traded baskets before Guilford's Rhett Bonner made two free throws with 2:24 remaining that gave the Quakers the lead for good. His layup with 36 seconds left and free throw 13 seconds opened an 83-79 Guilford lead. After John Carroll missed a three-pointer, the Quakers' Tyler Sanborn made one free throw with 13.1 ticks remaining, opening an 84-79 advantage.
John Carroll refused to quit and threatened again when Kirbus made the first of a two-shot foul, but missed the second. Maurice Haynes tipped in the miss and pulled the Blue Streaks to within 84-82 with 6.7 seconds remaining.
After Guilford's Clay Henson made one of two free throws, the Quakers called timeout. Kirbus' final three-pointer rimmed out as the final horn sound, preserving Guilford's ninth straight win and its second in as many seasons against John Carroll in the NCAA playoffs.
Eastern Mennonite Starts Hot, Moves On To Third Round
March 6, 2010
Courtesy - Eastern Mennonite Athletics
Big game experience pays off in big games. And while none of the Eastern Mennonite men's basketball players had played a game in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship before this weekend, Eli Crawford used his experience from numerous high school state tournament games to help will the Runnin Royals to an 85-71 win over Wilmington Saturday night in Harrisonburg.
The Quakers gave EMU a quick jab to start the game, putting in the first four points. The Royals responded with a 26-8 run over the next 11 minutes, finally getting out and running the floor in a way they were not able to do the previous night against Centre.
Wilmington got back within six points but EMU led at halftime, 38-29.
Playing in front of a mostly hostile crowd, the Quakers used a 7-1 run to close the gap to five early in the second, 41-36. Crawford's heady play helped steady the Royals though, and they rebuilt the lead to 51-41.
Wilmington charged back again and got within four at 51-47after senior Brandon Rogers hit a lay-up with 11:45 remaining. Todd Phillips helped reignite the men this time, finishing a 12-0 streak that effectively iced the game. Phillips nailed a fastbreak lay-up pushing EMU up 71-55 with 5:55 on the clock.
The Quakers would get no closer than 11 points down the stretch, as the Royals thrilled another packed house with the 85-71 victory.
In their first national tournament ever, Eastern Mennonite advances into the Sweet 16 with the win. The Runnin Royals next play in the sectional round on March 12and 13 at a site to be determined. EMU will play either Whitworth or Chapman, who play a game on the West Coast Saturday night. The other two teams in EMU's bracket are Guilford and Wooster. The Final Four is March 19 & 20 in Salem, Va.
Randolph-Macon Shoots Past Clark 70-60
March 6, 2010
Courtesy of Randolph Macon
READING, PA-Calvin Croskey and Danny Jones finished with 15 points each to lead Randolph-Macon Men's Basketball to a 70-60 win over Clark University in the NCAA Division III Tournament Second Round in Reading, PA Saturday. The Yellow Jackets will take on DeSales University Friday, March 12th, game time and location is still to be determined.
Adam Desgain knocked down a three with a 15:45 left in the first stanza to give Randolph-Macon an early 10-2 advantage.
Clark then used an 11-2 run, capped by a Slader Lyell three pointer to push ahead of R-MC 13-12 with 12:38 to go in the first half.
The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes before Jones sparked a 9-0 Jackets' run with a layup in the paint. Desgain finished it off when he knocked down a three to put Randolph-Macon up 31-23.
CU converted a layup just before halftime, sending the teams to the locker room with R-MC leading 31-25.
Randolph-Macon's first field goal of the second stanza came at the 13:27 mark when Jones dropped in a layup to tie the game at 37-37.
Croskey knocked down a three for the Yellow Jackets with 8:56 to play and would go on to score 10 of R-MC's next 14points, putting them up 55-45 with just over three minutes left.
Randolph-Macon would make 13-of-14 free throws down the stretch to seal the 70-60 victory and a berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament Sweet 16.
Croskey and Jones paced the Yellow Jackets with 15 points each to go with seven and six rebound respectively.
Jack Minister scored a game high 18 for Clark.
The 24-6 Yellow Jackets will face off against DeSales University Friday, March 12th, game time and location is still to be determined.
R-MC defeated DU 87-63 earlier this season in Ashland.
St. Mary's Knocks Out Virginia Wesleyan With 72-69 Win
March 6, 2010
Courtesy of St. Mary's (Md.)
St. Mary's City, Md. - To student chants of "I believe we will win!," senior guard Camontae Griffin raced down the court and put the finishing touches on the lay-up that thrust No. 13 St. Mary's College of Maryland back into the Sweet 16. St. Mary's edged No. 11 Virginia Wesleyan College, 72-69, as the Seahawks fed off the energy of 871 strong at the Michael P. O'Brien Athletics & Recreation Center Arena Saturday night.
Griffin's layup with 35 seconds remaining in regulation resulted from his boxing out in the defensive end and grabbing the rebound of senior guard Stephen Fields' missed three-point attempt.
After the Seahawks grabbed the 70-69 lead, Virginia Wesleyan ran down the clock to 10 seconds before Fields attempted another three-point shot that was off the mark and St. Mary's was awarded the ball. On the in-bounds play, sophomore guard James Davenport was fouled by the Marlins and Davenport knocked down both free throws with eight ticks left to ice the 72-69 win.
St. Mary's (26-3) will now take on No. 18 Franklin & Marshall College (25-4), who was a 73-64 winner over U.S. Merchant Marine Academy tonight, in one of four NCAA sectionals on Friday-Saturday, March 12-13. This will be the Seahawks' second meeting with F&M this season as the Diplomats handed St. Mary's a 72-61 setback on November 30.
Joining the Seahawks and F&M in the four-team sectional are DeSales University and Randolph-Macon College. The host sites for the sectional will be announced at a later time.
This is the end of the road for Virginia Wesleyan as the Marlins, who claimed the national title in 2006, close out their 2009-10 campaign with a 23-6 overall record.
For the second consecutive night, four Seahawk starters finished in double figures with junior guard Alex Franz leading the pack this time with 17 points and eight assists while Griffin finished with 15 and seven helpers. Junior center Sam Burum contributed 11 points and five rebounds while Davenport chipped in 10 and a team-best six caroms.
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Former Heritage Grad makes Impact for High Point 11/20/09 - Growing up in Lynchburg, Heritage High graduate Brielle Spencer and her family made an annual trek to Chapel Hill, N.C., nearly every November to watch the University of North Carolina’s women’s soccer team play in the early rounds of the NCAA tournament. Last Friday, Spencer, now a sophomore at High Point University, started at central defender against the fourth-ranked Tar Heels in the NCAA opener and helped the Panthers hold the defending national champions scoreless for nearly 70 minutes on their home field. UNC (18-3-1) eventually prevailed, 1-0, ending the season for High Point (7-15-2), which won six of its final eight games, five by shutout. But it was the thrill of a lifetime for Spencer and her teammates.
“To play in one of the games that I grew up watching, it was a surreal experience,” Spencer said. “When I walked out of the locker room through the tunnel to start warming up for the game, I looked up into the stands and (thought), ‘Just a couple of years ago I was up in those stands watching this game.’ It was such an honor.” Spencer, who as a freshman last fall was one of only two players to start all 21 games (the Panthers finished 8-5-8 in 2008), was making her 45th consecutive start and played all but the last two minutes of the 90-minute contest. High Point (7-15-2), in its 11th season competing as a Division I program, qualified for its third NCAA tournament after sweeping through the Big South Conference tournament unscored upon, posting three consecutive shutouts — over Gardner-Webb, Radford and Winthrop. Spencer and fellow sophomore defender Danniel Rosado each earned all-tournament team honors. “We played really well as a defense and our goalie played amazing,” Spencer said of senior Marisa Abbott, who made a career-high 14 saves in her final game. The Panthers, who opened the season with four straight shutout losses — to Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Loyola (Md.) and Old Dominion University — entered the tournament as the seventh seed after going 4-4-1 in Big South play. In the BSC championship game, High Point edged Winthrop, 4-2 in penalty kicks, after the two teams played to a scoreless tie through regulation and two overtime periods. It was the Panthers’ second tie — both against the Eagles — and eighth and final shutout, matching last season’s school-record mark. The match pitted Spencer and the Panthers against Brookville graduate Nichole Smith and the Eagles. “Nichole and I have known each other forever,” Spencer said. “We were rivals in high school, but we like each other and respect each other so much. “I thought it was so neat that two Lynchburg natives were playing each other on the stage that we were … in the final.” In the regular-season meeting at Winthrop, the two met face-to-face on the field. “She came in as a forward and I had to defend her and I told her, ‘It’s just like old times,’” Spencer recalled. All three times the Panthers have made the NCAA tournament field, they have faced UNC in the first round. This was the most competitive showdown so far, by far, after High Point lost 8-0 in 2003 and 6-1 in 2007. “There were definitely nerves before the game,” Spencer said. “We were playing against some of the best players in the country and several national team players. In our minds, we’re like, ‘We’re playing the University of North Carolina, the dynasty of women’s soccer.’ But once we got started, we just said to ourselves, ‘It’s just another game. Let’s give it all we have and play with all our heart. “We played for 70 minutes against Carolina without allowing a goal,” she added. ”Not that many teams in the country can say that. We were on an emotional high. That was amazing.” Despite being outshot by the Tar Heels, 31-0, the Panthers extended their scoreless streak to 443 minutes. Spencer was in awe, but not overwhelmed, guarding players she used to cheer for. “I remember watching one of their forwards, No. 98, Tobin Heath,” she said. “It was so cool because I got to defend her. I got to take the ball from her.” Spencer has made the transition to the college game more smoothly than most of her peers. After tearing her ACL in high school, she was not as mobile as usual at midfield for her senior season at Heritage, wearing a bulky brace on her knee. She shifted back to her natural position of defender and has remained injury-free since arriving at High Point. “In club soccer, I always played defense,” Spencer said. “I love it. That’s definitely my preferred position. I love to anchor the back line as we work together as a unit to keep control of the game, if we can.” Panthers first-year coach Marty Beall shifted the team from a 4-5-1 to a 3-4-3 formation before the BSC tournament. “He re-evaluated and looked at the players we had and the teams we were going to play so we could develop into a better team and ... he was spot on,” Spencer said. “We took the new formation and we ran with it and became very successful.” She said the new formation was more challenging, but also more effective. “It required us as defenders to be fitter, work harder and to take responsibility even more,” Spencer said. “The three of us stepped up and took responsibility pretty well.” She prepared herself for her sophomore year once her freshman season was finished, just as she began doing for her junior year on Monday. “We actually started off-season weight lifting tonight,” Spencer said by phone on Monday. “That will go through the winter and in the spring it becomes even more intense and it builds in intensity from there. “I’ve put in so much work during the summer, during the school year, getting my body as fit as I can by doing so much running and lifting, and watching what I eat,” she added. “I’m concentrating on doing everything I can to … reach my highest potential.” Beall keeps the Panthers motivated by setting ambitious goals. “Our coach has given us a challenge as a team to try to repeat as Big South Tournament champions and to win the regular season (next fall),” Spencer said after Monday night’s team meeting. “He challenged us to work absolutely as hard as we can to reach that goal.” She remains equally committed in the classroom and ambitious in the academic realm. A math major with a minor in physics, Spencer got straight A’s as a freshman and maintains a 4.0 GPA. The honors program student also is working on her secondary education licensure so she can become a high school teacher. “I actually want to come back to Heritage to teach, and coach in the Lynchburg area,” Spencer said. “If the opportunity presents itself, I’d like to coach there, too.” She took 10 AP classes at Heritage that prepared her well for the college course load she’s shouldering now. “I had a great time at Heritage,” Spencer said. “I loved my teachers there. So many of them had such a big impact on me and laid the foundation for my success here. “The way they prepared me, I can’t thank them enough.” She wants to return the favor to future Pioneers. “I want to give them a great foundation and inspire them,” Spencer said. -Ted Allen |
Register to Win an ESPN in VA T-ShirtThis week's winner of an ESPNinVA T-Shirt and a $20 gift card from Applebees is Bill West of Buchanan.
