Senior helps put Nansemond River back on top

Nansemond River and King’s Fork have traded the top spot in Southeastern District boys basketball for five seasons, mostly with the Warriors and Bulldogs being No. 1 vs. No. 2 each time they meet.

Nansemond River regained the city and district’s season crown this season, likely making the rivalry that much more intense when December rolls around again.

Warrior head coach Ed Young wasn’t happy with a lopsided loss ending his team’s season against Booker T. Washington in the regional tournament but even moments after the season was done, he was proud his program, “returned to being the flagship program of the district.”

Senior guard Ashton Moore, motivated largely by the word “senior,” led the Warriors in that goal and is the Suffolk News-Herald’s Player of the Year.

The state’s coaches selected Moore as one of the top six players in Group AAA this season as he averaged 18 points per game and made 45 percent of his three-point shots.

While outstanding shooting is the first thing to notice about Moore’s play, that category alone doesn’t make a player first-team all-state.

Moore, with Dontrell Brite, Shannon Evans and Michael Copeland, meant the Warriors often had four players on the floor at 6-foot-1 or shorter. The combination of speed and shooting led NR to a 21-6 record.

Senior guard Josh Beck was expected to be the point guard and top scorer for Lakeland all season long. The Cavs struggled through most of the season until the final 10 games when Lakeland showed it could play with anyone.

The Cavaliers took it one step more by upsetting No. 2 King’s Fork in the district tourney and winning a Cinderella spot in the regional tournament.

Not many high school squads could lose four Division I players in two years and still go 17-6.

Junior Zach Johnson sat and learned behind Davante Gardner, now playing at Marquette, and Jay Copeland, now playing at Ball State, last season for King’s Fork. This season, Johnson turned in many double-doubles to earn first-team All-Southeastern honors.

All-Suffolk News-Herald 2010-11 Boys Basketball Teams

First Team

• Ashton Moore – Nansemond River, G (Player of the Year)
• Zach Johnson – King’s Fork, C
• Michael Copeland – Nansemond River, F
• Josh Beck – Lakeland, G
• Dontrell Brite – Nansemond River, G

Second Team

• Shannon Evans – Nansemond River, G
• Harrison Spalding – Nansemond-Suffolk, G
• Marichal Walden – Lakeland, F
• Fred Scott – King’s Fork, F
• Colby Toler – First Baptist, F