The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 124

i DC Monday, Jan. 11, 1993 The Philadelphia Inquirer BASKETBALL 9 "i I vv 4 ''VvlrvWIS MfW IS i -1 '5 y.v:V Del-Val League Penn Wood is on a win streak after poor start By Bill Doherty INQUIRER CORHKSPONDENT Penn Wood, the defending District 1 champion, started the season with a 1-5 mark. Since then, the Patriots (5-5) have turned things around winning four games in a row. "The whole team has stepped it up a notch," Penn Wood coach Frank Ridpath said. "And Richard Barnes has stepped up three notches.

He's been playing out of this world lately." During the Patriots' four-game winning streak, Barnes, a 6-foot, 4-inch senior, has averaged 28.5 points and 20.5 rebounds. In Penn Wood's latest win, a 72-30 frolic over Dickinson (Del.) Saturday night, Barnes had 21 points and 25 rebounds. He is on a roll heading into tomorrow's showdown against Chichester's 6-6 Charles Smith, a Rider signee. The winner of this battle of the county's top two scorers will gain a serious leg up in the race for Del-Val League MVP honors. Barnes is not the only reason for the Patriots' turnaround.

Senior Ray Curry, who was hurt early in the season and then appeared uncomfortable at the shooting-guard spot, has been moved back to small forward, the position he played last season. Since the move, Curry has been scoring in double digits. And the Patriots' new backcourt of Rahim Walls and Ozzie Irons has really started to develop. "I was really down on the kids early in the year," Ridpath to their credit, they've turned things around." Bey watch Minutes before Saturday night's game, Lower Merion guard Sultan Shabazz posed the question that a lot of people have been asking as they walk into the Glen Mills gym this winter: Where are the big men? At a school synonymous with inside players, this season's edition of the Battling Bulls is different. This season, the Bulls a young team rely heavily on their guards for leadership and scoring.

How young are the Bulls? Their most experienced varsity returning player, 5-11 junior guard Rasheed Bey, had played in only six varsity games. But despite their youth, the scrappy bunch is 6-2 after a 79-63 victory over Lower Merion on Saturday. A big reason for the Bulls' success has been the leadership of Bey, who finished with a team-high 20 points, 6 assists and 6 steals against Lower Merion. Anthony Myers had 17 points, and Curtis Williams and James Curtis had 10 each for the winners. Bey is a handful for opponents.

He handles the ball like a yo, lulling opponents to sleep. When they go for the steal with the ball seemingly within their grasp, Bey will give them a quick crossover dribble, drive to the basket and feed an open teammate. "With so many young guys on the team, my job is to pass the ball around to get everyone involved in the offense," Bey said. "We're really coming together. To be 6-2 heading into the league is a good start." Unsung heroes The first thing most people notice at an Academy Park basketball game is the big man 6-10 junior George Fagan.

Then their eyes shift to DeWayne Wesley, 6-3, the third guard in the Knights' all-junior starting lineup the guy who causes matchup problems because he plays bigger than he is. But Academy Park coach Rick Pergolini notices the contributions of all his players. After his team's 51-39 victory over The Christian Academy Thursday night, he wanted to talk about the other guys the players who have quietly played a big role in the Knights' impressive 84 start. "Larry Blanden saw limited varsity action last year, and he's come in this year and has played like a veteran," Pergolini said. "And the two other starters, Willard Ramseur and Shannon Overton they just work hard night after night, they're consistent.

Most importantly, they're extremely coachable kids. They'll do anything they can to help the team win." For Inquirw JOHN SLAVIN Academy Park's Willard Ramseur (left) collides with The Christian Academy's Jim Urie. Academy Park won, 51-39..