Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / April 19, 1984, edition 2 / Page 17
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i I CIAA REPORT SSSSS Runner-Up I An Up-AndBy SAM DAVIS , Staff Writer Though Virginia Union's Pantherettes didn't notch their second consecutive national title in women's basketball this year, Coach Lou Hearn was pleased with the success of his team in the NCAA tourney. After bowing to Virginia State 65-63 ?U~ /" ! A A T ' 1 111 me i/~\t\ i uurnameni ana losing a chance for an automatic NCAA bid, the Pantherettes were given a reprieve by the NCAA selection committee when they were selected for an at-large bid. And they made the most of the opportunity, advancing all the way to the Division II championship game in Springfield before falling to Central Missouri State, which won national titles in both men's and women's basketball this season. Though Union was expected to win iheClAA title -- which it didn't - and move on to defend its NCAA title in postseason play -which it did, by the skin of its teeth - it had to scratch and claw all the way. 4<I knew we had the talent to make a run at the NCAAs," Heam said, "but I really didn't think we could pull out the championship two years in a row. We really played well down the stretch and I'm proud of the character my players showed." As for the conference wars, which were won by surprising N.C. Central, "We had visions of capturing the CIAA Tournament," Hearn said. "We were disappointed that we lost to Virginia State in the tournament (semifinals). We beat them on their home court during the season and we felt we were the better team. Central, which had a losing record both in the league and overall, went on to beat Virginia State in the CIAA /? t unais. "Anytime you lose a game you feel you should have won, it's a disappointment," Hearn said. "But getting on NCAA bid and making it back to the final two really made our season." Yet, while the Pantherettes have en?AW-Amerfcc die the ball against the other team's press on many occasions." Another first-team pick who will get a good look from the pros is North Carolina A&T's Joe Binion, a 6-7 senior forward who was picked as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's Player ot the Year tor the third straight season in '84. Only Marvin Webster, now with th$ New York Knicks, had accomplished that feat in the MEAC before. In four seasons at A&T, Binion r n mwipwiw i1 wi i mnmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Union: Down Year joyed considerable success recently on the national level, Heam still has problems scheduling non-conference teams, a fact that almost cost his team its bid to the NCAA tourney. "We only played four teams outside our conference during the season, so we only had 20 games (seven below the NCAA limit)," said Hearn. "It seemed | a lot of teams in our area were afraid to schedule us. "Next year, we would like to add at least four more non-conference games," Hearn added. "Doine well in the NCAA Tournament has given us increased visibility and credibility as a black university, but we'd like to be in- il vited to some regular season tour- ? naments early in the year. Like other successful athletic pro- r grams at Virginia Union, the Pantherettes rely on the fundamentals and, of course, Union's famous talent pipeline. "You're not going to win a national championship without talent," Heam says. "If you learn the basics and throw in a few plays, that's enough to mold a winner. When you try to put in too much, it becomes complicated. "In the heat of battle, you need to have some talent on the court," said Hearn, who admits he's no expert tactician. "There are so many intangibles that a coach really has no control over. If I you have the talent and the team is con hesive, you should be able to deal with whatever comes up. "If you don't have the talent," he said, "that's when coaching comes into m play. "Fortunately, I haven't been faced t with that, but next year I'll have to i work harder because I'm losing both of c my floor leaders." s Stalwart guards guards Maria i Nicholson and Paris McWhirter, who t * have played together since high school, are the only players who won't be c returning to Hearn's squad. i And, while it will be difficult to 1 replace the departing seniors, Hearn c said, he won't be in a rush to go out s and sign many high school players. i | - - - f II - Page 15^ ' broke the school's all-time scoring record and led his team to four postseason bids. He also paced the league in both ; scoring and rebounding this season after leading the league in scoring and 1 placing second in rebounding as a junior. 5 The fifth member and the onlv non- 1 senior on the first team is Virginia t Union's Charles Oakley, a 6-8 junior, j As a freshman, the Cleveland, Ohio, native led the CIAA in rebounding and ] l( f COLLEGE! F*1 Cjm J MW Br / w iHbittJ HPv ^ B k i K- V>; HSyi k ^1 m ^ . Jmpffi :f ^vf' .. miMfetfl#! ... ^ ^ 'irfiili #^P5!|SsWS^ Returning tylvia Walker (10), a 5-11 sophon lext year to Lou Hearn's Pantheret "We're still going to be recruiting he same way we have been in the >ast," said Hearn. "I haven't and lon't plan to go out and see many high chool games. We normally rely on our ilumni and use the telephone to touch )ase with our contacts." Hearn said he would like to bring in ibout four good players next year, but, f he doesn't, he'll be Content to use the !0 he aleady has. Those returnees in:lude 6-3 center Veta Williams, who cored 39 points and had 20 rebounds n the NCAA championship game. rumiwi* bUifr. ~umU - * .. ?, &m-.rrzrje This year, Oakley, playing with four :irst-year starters, paced the Panthers :o a 27-6 record and the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional title, rhe Panthers also came within a single Doint of the Division II Final Four. "Charles has really matured as a /oung man since he came here," says Jnion Coach Dave Robbins. "He is he most physical and best rebounding slayer I have ever coached." Oakley was a third-team all-America sick in Division II this season and Rob inCBff BEVIEW hi ^ ^ I - - . ' '? VV >i ' ' :' '"V' ...'V'>, . rflf^r i$+ & kvj- ?> y# ^'V, ' - ' IzJHBP/^" ;.^ Wk~.jv3^0yaS?KTl ii'iiUp lore. Is among 10 players returning tes (photo by Marcus Wilson). t4Veta will be our only senior next year and we're expecting big things from hpr " Hparn caiH 1 'Wa'ta K??n . ? v v? f ?vw> ! y V ft V WV ft ft working with her in developing her outside game because she's such a good shooter. She's also a good shot-blocker and rebounder." Also among the returnees are 6-1 center Val Ellis, 5-11 guard Sylvia Walker, 5-9 guard Wanda Wood, 5-11 forward Lisa Burns, 5-9 twin sisters Nathelma and Nadine Walker, a guard and forward, respectively, and 5-11 forward Wanda Hobbs. s. uittSuJia^ his unselfishnessCOM Ojkiey"'a"fit sMram bcrrir.~**-HT: dominated a number oT players wno were on the first and second teams," Robbins says. "Next year, we plan to showcase his offensive skills a little more and I expect to see some 40-point games from him." The second team includes North Carolina A&T guard Eric Boyd, Alcorn State junior forward Aa^on Brandon Alrnrn iiminr 1 - t,J-" , . ?ivv/i ii juiuui gUCLI US LOQIC Archie and Michael Phelps, and Grambling State senior center Napoleon Johnson. ====55=555== April. 1984-Page 17
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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April 19, 1984, edition 2
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