Petersburg displays its inside power in easy win over Dale

-- The players' roles are clearly defined for the Petersburg boys basketball team.

The short guys -- Drejon Scott, Chris Moore and Tyre Desmore -- play in-your-jersey defense all over the floor, break down the opposing defense with penetration and pass to the big guys.

The big guys -- Virginia Tech signee Cadarian Raines (6-9), Chris Evans (6-6) and Du'Vaughn Maxwell (6-6) -- receive the passes on the inside.

They then make a move for a layup, or if they have sealed off their defender, they ferociously dunk the ball.

More than occasionally, one big man will take an entry pass, and instead of flushing the ball himself, he'll dish to another big guy for a jam.

Because the Crimson Wave players are so good at what they do, they are ranked No. 1 in the T-D Top 10. They performed their talent for the 10th time this season without a defeat last night, hammering No. 7 Thomas Dale 85-59 at Dale.

The 26-point spread is one point less than the Wave's average margin of victory this season. The closest any team has come is 13 points. The Wave won a road game over Eastern Region nemesis Booker T. Washington in that one.

"We're confident, but not cocky. We know we have to work hard to get it done," Scott said.

Scott, who has scored as many as 26 points in a game this season, Moore and Desmore combined for nine points last night. They also had numerous assists to Raines (21 points), Evans (19) and Maxwell (16).

The guards, along with the long-armed Evans, made it difficult for Thomas Dale to get the ball up the floor. When the Knights did, they scored.

"We always stress on-the-ball defense," Scott said. "If they can't get the ball up the floor, they can't score. We stress being unselfish on offense and selfish on defense."

The Wave has favored a zone defense in coach Bill Lawson III's seven years at the helm, but he has his team playing more man-to-man defense this season.

"We've improved on defense, but we're still trying to see what defense is best for us," Lawson said. "Every time we play Thomas Dale, it's our hardest game. We played terrible in the second quarter (10 turnovers), but we pounded the ball inside in the third quarter. We went to our strengths."

Petersburg led 41-32 at the break. The Wave held the Knights to eight points and scored in 13 of 15 possessions in the third quarter. Petersburg rang up 11 dunks and didn't have a 3-pointer. The Wave also got 12 points, 10 in the second quarter, by reserve Kevin Green.

"We can shoot, but the high percentage shot on the inside is what we're looking for," Lawson said.

The Knights are a young bunch just learning what it's like to play a high-level opponent. They were led by Michael Simms with 20 points. Aaron Epps added 12.

"The first half we did things we should have done, but their size took over in the third quarter," Knights coach Eddie Goss said. "We didn't have an answer."
Contact Arthur Utley at (804) 649-6559 or .

PETERSBURG (4-0, 10-0)

Petersburg: K. Green 12, Mason 2, Desmore 2, Moore 6, Evans 19, Scott 1, M. Greene 5, Maxwell 16, R. Greene 0, Hoosier 0, Raines 21, Tyler 0, Spain 1. Totals 35 15-26 85.

THOMAS DALE (3-1, 6-3)

Jordon 0, Turner 3, D. Campbell 2, White 5, Mason 7, Hevener 3, Fulghum 2, Simms 20, Epps 12, Burwell 2, Green 3. Totals 23 9-16 59.
Petersburg ------------------------- 22 19 24 20 -- 85
Thomas Dale ------------------------- 17 15 8 19 -- 59

3-point goals: TD -- Mason, Hevener, Simms, Green.