Spurts power Springers

Henrico, ignited by the sparkling play of Justin Coleman, put up a good fight against No. 1-seed Highland Springs in the Capital District championship game last night at Hanover High School.

In the end, however, Highland Springs' inside-outside combo of Jeri Mask and Xavier Parham delivered the heaviest blows as the Springers KO'd the Warriors 67-48 to secure their fifth consecutive tournament title.

Parham (21 points) and Mask (19) totaled 40 points in leading the Springers into next week's Central Region tournament.

The Springers begin their quest for a second state title in three years Monday when they open the 16-team tournament against visiting Deep Run.

"We looked like we were disinterested in the second quarter," said Highland Springs coach George Lancaster, whose team swept the regular-season and tournament titles for the fourth year in a row. "We sort of got a little cute and showy and got away from the fundamentals.

"Henrico was scrappy, but we came back with a little more cohesion in the second half. We were at our peak in the last two quarters, and we shut down the people [Coleman and district player of the year Trey Davis] we had to stop."

The Springers sprinted out of the blocks, taking a commanding 16-2 lead with 2:48 left in the first period.

But they only bloodied the noses of the Warriors, who gathered their nerves and composure to mount a charge in the closing minutes.

Coleman (21 points and 13 rebounds) torched the Springers from the perimeter and outhustled them in the paint, scoring 10 points as Henrico trimmed the Highland Springs lead to 18-12 after the opening period.

Coleman, averaging 22 points and 14 rebounds since gaining eligibility this semester, didn't have to carry the load in the second quarter.

Center David Zavelsky outmaneuvered the Springers in the post to scored all eight of his points in the period. He tipped in a missed shot 1:03 before halftime as Henrico cut its deficit to 27-24.

The Springers got a momentum-shifting 3-pointer from Parham with 51 seconds left to take a 30-26 at halftime.

"I think we got a little tired in the second quarter, and they started outhustling us," Mask said. "We knew we had to come back with the same intensity we started the game with."

The Springers, ignited by Mask's three 3-pointers in the third quarter, opened a 47-35 lead with 2:37 left in the period. This time, the Warriors couldn't fight back.

"I was proud of the character our guys showed, but we got hit by too many punches [in the second half]," Henrico coach Vance Harmon said.

Contact Ralph N. Paulk at (804) 649-6851

HENRICO (17-8)

Walden 5, T. Davis 8, Harrison 4, B. Davis 0, Burston 0, Carter 0, Johnson 0, Wells 1, Zavelsky 8, Thorpe 0, Coleman 21, Robinson 0, Grooms 1. Totals: 17 10-14 48.
HIGHLAND SPRINGS (23-2)

Threatt 0, Parham 21, Lewis 0, Alston 0, Jones 0, McClaine 0, Hodnett 9, Young 11, Mask 19, Judon 0, T. Williams 4, Hopkins 0, Reed 3, S. Willliams 0. Totals. 25 8-12 67
Henrico ------------------------- 12 14 13 9 -- 48
Highland Springs ------------------------- 18 12 21 16 -- 67

3-point goals: H -- Coleman 3, Walden. HS -- Mask 5, Parham 3, Hodnett.