Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Jan. 2, 1992, edition 1 / Page 13
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Sports Carver's Jackets had B1 the right answers By CRAIG T. GREENLEE Chronicle Sports Editor Carver's 56-55 win over North Forsyth in the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic finals should not be considered an upset of major proportions. Sure, the Vilcing? yf.rp. the, nvp.r whelming favorites to win going in. But - more importantly, Carver was terribly underrated as the lowest seeded team in the tournament field of eight. Prior to the tournament's start, the Yellowjackets had won just two of six games. In each of their four losses, the fixu&outcome could have easily been dif ferent. Zealous defense and game savvy are . the prime reasons why the Jackets . heramg tbf? -first team, to repeat as Spencer -- champions in the 17 -year history of the event. Carver coach Alfred Poe held all the right cards for a winning hand because of five seniors who have played together under his system for at least two seasons. The Hart twins <Daren. and David), along with Eric and Roosevelt Johnson pTus Tremaine Graham have gone through a number of tight game scenarios and ihny'ie all dedicated tu playing stiff, I dare 4ya to score defense. That's a hard combination to beat even if the opposing team has an abundance of individual tal ent. Defensively, the Jackets disrupted North's offense by forcing Dameon Fos ter, the Vikes' prime ball handler, to give the ball up. That doesn't mean that Casey Simmons, Deshawn Wilson and Rusty Street didn't do an admirable job of han dling Ouvei Fs defensive piessme. irs just that North's offense runs a lot sfnoother - when Foster has the ball in his hands. Please See Page B3 Photo by Max Dunhill . - Photo by Chronicle Staff David Hart came off the bench to deliver some offensive spark North's Rommie Crowell averaged 23 points a game to firmly Carver's Roosevelt lor Carver in ?ha rhamninnchin finale establish himself as the tournament MVP. the ball. for Carver in the championship finals. Photo by T-Lo9 Johnson (I2fapplies defensive pressure on COACH'S PERSPECTIVE By Cfoonfcte Staff Rams to face Liz City in Smoke On The .River Classic, By Chronicle Staff The results from Winston Salem State's first seven games indicate that the Rams are better off when they aren't playing with in the confines of the C.E. Gaines Complex. The Rams, 3-4, are looking to reach, then surpass the break-even point this weekend at the Smoke On The River Basketball Classic in Wilmington. Winston will play Elizabeth City State in the opening round on Saturday at 8 p.m. The winner of that game will play the winner of St. Augustine's vs. North Carolina Central on Sunday at 2 p.m. Winston's inconsistency is. puzzling to coach Clarence "Big house Gaines, whose team has recorded two of its three wins on the road. "I don't know what it is," Gaines said. "We play better on the road than we do at home. It's a pure pysch situation." Gaines is looking to get his guys back in synch after a long - holiday break. But he's all too aware that the Rams won't be packing m^ich of a punch if they play like they did against Hamp ton University in an 88-70 loss two weeks ago. "That was one of the worst "We know it's going to be an uptempo game, so it will come down to which team is playing better." - Clarence "Big house" Gaines Winston-Salem State coach exhibitions that I've seen from us in the last two or three years," Gaines said. "It looked like our people were fati^ned. I don't know if it was physical or mental. But we weren't ready to play. I look atfthc game tapes and sec Hampton coming down on the break fiv<3 on none. And that hap pened several times." Gaines has stressed from the start of the season that the Rams must play uptempo in order to make a strong run in the CIAA's Southern Division. Against Eliza beth C^Uy, the Rams shouldn't have any problems because the Vikings (3-5) hkc*to run. / The Vikcs have no problems putting the ball in the hole (86 ppg, 48.1 FG%). John McNeil (19.7 ppg), Nate Higgs (17.5 ppg, 1 1 rpg) and Martin Lacewell (15.7 ppg) are the primary offensive weapons. Liz City's major flaw, howev er, is its inability to stop people. The Vikings are the league's worst in scoring defense (90 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.527). ? , . "Elizabeth City has lost a lot of games," said Gaines, "but they have been in several close games. They have a good team. We know it's going to be an uptempo game, ' . , , I* so it will come down to which team is playing better." In order for the Rams to emerge triumphant in Wilming ton, Gaines feels some changes arc needed, which includes main taining a quick tempo offensively and fronting the low post people on defense. "We need to improve our offensive spacing and our timing/* the coach said. 44 We run an open offense so we can take advantage of pick and rolls and people cut ting to the basket. We've Worked on that all week and we'll contin ue to drill that into our players' heads."
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Jan. 2, 1992, edition 1
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