Dazzle to Host Oak Hill, Roanoke Catholic
October 15, 2002 - NBA G League (G League)
Roanoke Dazzle News Release
ROANOKE, Va., October 14, 2002 â The Roanoke Dazzle will host one of the most anticipated basketball events of the area's 2002-03 season on Wednesday, February 12, when marquee prep teams from Roanoke Catholic School and Oak Hill Academy meet as part of a doubleheader with the NBDL's Dazzle and Columbus Riverdragons.
Dazzle Team President Joe Preseren announced today that the twinbill, scheduled at the Roanoke Civic Center, opens with Oak Hill-Catholic in a 6:30 p.m. tipoff, followed by the Riverdragons-Dazzle game at approximately 8:30. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.
The Dazzle will split the game's ticket revenue with Roanoke Catholic and Oak Hill. Those proceeds will benefit the two schools' athletic programs.
The doubleheader is part of the Dazzle's ticket plans, and tickets purchased for the Dazzle-Riverdragons game will be good for both games. Dazzle season and group ticket packages are on sale at (540) 266-1000. Dazzle single-game tickets â priced at $16, $10 and $6 -- will go on sale in late October, on a date to be announced. The $16 and $10 tickets are reduced $2 for children (age 12 and under).
The Catholic-Oak Hill game will be the Roanoke homecoming of Warriors shooting guard J.R. Reynolds, who transferred to Oak Hill from Catholic for his senior season. Reynolds, who averaged 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for Catholic last season, has made a verbal commitment to Virginia.
The Celtics, coached by Dick Wall and coming off a 25-7 season in 2001-02, have won two straight State Catholic championships and have taken the Virginia Independent Schools Division II state title in three consecutive seasons.
The game is also the only scheduled Roanoke Valley appearance this season by Coach Steve Smith's powerhouse Oak Hill team. The Mouth of Wilson, Va., program has finished atop the final USA Today prep basketball poll in two of the last four seasons.
"The Dazzle is enthused about playing an extended role in promoting basketball in the Roanoke Valley," Dazzle Team President Joe Preseren said. "It's going to be a great night for local basketball fans, with two games in a big-time atmosphere at the Roanoke Civic Center. We appreciate Roanoke Catholic and Oak Hill working with the Dazzle to help make this special event happen."
"We are grateful to the Dazzle for the enthusiastic support of high school basketball and what that effort could mean for the Roanoke Catholic and Oak Hill programs," Wall said. "We are excited to help bring a game like this to the Roanoke Valley. Oak Hill is a perennial national power and we have had a good run over the last four years. Several players in the game are college prospects. Stir in the return of J.R. with a different uniform and this should be quite an attraction."
Oak Hill is 126-3 in the last four seasons and the Warriors have had 15 former players drafted by the NBA since 1985. Oak Hill, ranked third, first, second and first in the last four USA Today final polls, is ranked No. 2 nationally this preseason by Street & Smith's Basketball Yearbook.
Three of Smith's six seniors with NCAA Division I grant-in-aid offers already have made commitments to prominent programs â the 6-foot-2 Reynolds to Virginia, 6-3 point guard Marcus Williams to Connecticut and 6-7½ forward Ivan Harris to Ohio State.
Catholic is led by Matt Nowlin â the 6-4 wing with 1,538 points has committed to Elon â and senior point guard Tony Hairston. Wall's program has an impressive schedule again, including January dates in the Dell Curry Invitational in Charlotte and the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational in Springfield, Mass. The Celtics also welcome two Lithuanian natives -- 6-10 Paulius Joneliunas and 6-2 Tadas Stanaitis to Wall's team.
The Dazzle will open its second NBDL season at the Roanoke Civic Center on Friday, November 15, with a 7 p.m. tipoff against the Huntsville Flight.
NBA G League Stories from October 15, 2002
- Dazzle to Host Oak Hill, Roanoke Catholic - Roanoke Dazzle
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