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The Choice for African-American Sews The Chronicie SportsWeek^ ?' - ?*-?' ^ 1 ?!?'? ? ' february 14, 2002 ? - * Vikings clinch Metro 4-A title; turnaround complete BY SAM DAVIS THli CHRONICLE Basketball is big again at North Forsyth. The Vikings took the final step in their rebuilding mode by taking a 66 44 victory over Mount Tabor last Friday nighj> That victory gave the Vikings their first con ference championship in bas ketball since the 1985-86 sea son. The Vikings, who have enjoyed a long legacy of suc cess in basketball, captured their eighth conference champi onship in school history and moved to within one game of their first 20-game winning season in nearly a decade. North Forsyth gained a measure of confidence early in the season when it traveled to Utah to play several games and surprised some of the state's top teams. That confidenee car ried over to the Frank Spencer Holiday Classic when the Vikings captured the tourna ment championship for the first time since the 1980s. The biggest cog in the suc cess story being enjoyed by the Vikings is 6-6 pivotntan Mike Drum, whose grit and determi nation hate been embraced by the rest of the team. Drum leads the leant in scoring (17.3) and rebounding (9.8) and ranks sec ond in assists (5.0). "Drum?is -an all-around player." coach Mike Muse said. "He's very unselfish and that's See Vikings tm B2 Mike Drum leads North Forsyth in scoring (17.3) and rebounding (9.8). & Stephano Jackson Toya Davis, first-year coach, puts Mustangs' JVs on winning track BY SAM DAVIS THE CHRONICLE Last year this time Toya Davis was preparing for graduation from St. Paul's College and trying to figure out what career path she would follow. Less than a year later, she's enjoying her first season as the head girls junior varsity basketball coach at Parkland High School, where the Mus tangs are in contention for a conference champi onship for the first time in more than a decade. Davis, who played her high schooWwketbsdl at North Forsyth, has led the Mustangs to a 12-7 overall record and a 10-3 mark in the Piedmont Triad 3-A Conference. The Mustangs went into this week with three conference games left and an outside chance to capture a league crown. Although het team's accomplishments are sur prising, Davis said the'Mtlstaltgs have worked hard to get where they are right now. "This is a team full Of hard workers," Davis said. "They're not very talented, but they work hard every day and they are very dedicated. It is really a good group of girls to work with." The nucleus of the team is made up of soph omores. Of the seven in the regular rotation, four were on the squad last year when the team strug gled through a tough season. It took a leap of faith by Davis to put her in position to be the team's coach this season. After she received her degree last May, Davis was talking to Marlon Brim, air assistant coach in the Parkland boys program who attends the same church (Union Baptist) when she expressed her desire to coach on the high school level. Brim put Davis in touch with Erica Turner, the girls * varsity head coach and the rest is history. At first Davis was slated to be an assistant on the varsity team. But when the junior varsity head coach quit, Turner asked Davis to fill the*slot. "I feel blessed." Davis said. "At the time I didn't really know what to expect, but after this experience 1 know this is something that I want to do the rest of my life," she said. Davis said it has helped to have her father. 'See Davis <>n B2 Signing day is always a big event for Wilkes The first Wednesday Of Febru ary is always a joyous occasion for coach Keith Wilkes. It is his tradition to meet with the parents of his Carver High ?football players as they make their decisions about where they will spend the next four years of their lives. Last Wednesday was no exception. Wilkes and the par ents of six of his players met in the media center to cele brate as the players signed their national letters of intent to play college football next fall. Watching his players sign their scholarship papers helped Wilkes forget, for the moment, the Yellowjackets' 6 5 record from the 2CX) 1 season. It was the first season in five years that the Yellowjackets failed win the Piedmont Triad 3-A Conference championship or qualify for the state 3-A playoffs. But seeing his play ers. which numbered eight, sign to attend college in the fall helped make up for it. "Of course we didn't have the kind of season we wanted to last year, but that happens in life." he said. "And really, when you look at it. this is something that is far more important than wins on the football field. These guys started out four years ago with clean slates. They made choices on and off the football field that will affect the outcome of the rest of their lives. For the most part, they did the things that will help them become successful in the future, and right now they are being rewarded for it. "Not every kid who leaves here is going to sign a scholar ship to play college football." Wilkes added. "But. we try to do everything in our power to make sure the ones who have the ability and desire get the opportunity." Many times, according to Wilkes, that means, pushing his players in the classroom See Press Box on B4 ^ From The Press Box Sam Davis Patrick Jenkins, center, is joined by his parents, Daniel and Patricia Jenkins, and sister Alicia at Carver's annual Football Signing Day. Jones leads the way as Carver gets revenge on Rockingham County | BY SAM DAVIS THE CHRONICLE _5 Porsche Jones played like the Northwest area's top player last Friday night. Despite injury and illness, Jones poured in 25 points and handed out nearly a dozen assists to lead Carver to a 46-42 victory over Rock ingham County. With an overflow crowd watching, Jones came through with a clutch performance to help the Yellowjackets avenge a double-digit loss to the Cougars ear lier in the season. The win tied the teams atop. the standings in the Piedmont Triad 3-A Conference and proba ? Jones bly set the stage for two more battles. If the teams continue on the paths they have been on throughout the season, they'll likely meet again in the conference tournament and again in the state 3-A playoffs. Carver defeated Rockingham County in the play offs last year en route to its state 3-A cham pionship. Jones provided the spark early and late to lift the Yellowjackets. She scored 12 of. Carver's 19 first-half points as the Yellow jackets went to the locker room trailing 21 19 at halftime. In the fourth quarter, Jones scored 5 of the Yellowjackets' final 7 points on five-of six shooting from the free-throw line to seal the victory. Coach Gerald cCartef said Jones' play was without a doubt the key to the win. "She's the gutsiest player I've ever seen." Carter said. "She's still hurt but she went out there tonight and played a great game. 1 knew going into the game she was a little sick too. but she didn't show any signs of it." See Yellowjackets on B2 Demons' Byrom, Ijames sign scholarships BY SAM DAVIS THE CHRONICLE ? Two varsity players from the R.J. Reynolds varsity foot ball team signed scholarships to play football in college next season. Omar {Jyrom, a defen sive end. and Dwayne Ijames. a defensive back, signed grants last Wednesday at the school. Both Byrom and Ijames were named to The Chronicle Super 25 after outstanding senior seasons. During the 2001 season both also were named to the Central Pied mont 4-A All-Conference Team. Byrom. a 6-3. 230 pounder. signed with Appalachian State. In addition to being named to the CPC See Demons on 82 Omar Byrom, seated, signs his scholarship to attend Appalachian State. He is accompanied by his father, Chuck Byrom; Stan El rod; Lord Byrom; Pricilla Byrom and David Atkins. Photo by Franklin Wong Alike Lloyd of Mount Tabor acceptfhis award after capturing first place in the 300-meter dash at the State Indoor Aleef in Chapel Hill. Lloyd set a state record in the event and captured first place in the 55-meter dash to lead Mount Tabor to the state championship. The Spartan girls also captured first place. ? FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS CALL (336) 722-8624 ? MASTERCARD, VISA AND AMERICAN EXPRESS ACCEPTED ?
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Feb. 14, 2002, edition 1
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