CHCS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

DEMETRIUS POLLARD

After a season of ups and downs a year ago, the #2 ranked Dolphins boys basketball team has found their stride early in the 2010 season. Cape Henry lost a couple key seniors from a year ago, but they return significant talent, along with a few additions. Talent alone does not get the job done, though. The Dolphins have matured quite a bit since last season, and at the head of that list is this week’s Athlete of the Week, Demetrius Pollard.

“Demetrius has matured on the court this year to become one of the most dominant players in Hampton Roads,” head coach Larry Ward said. “His ability to score the basketball from beyond the arc, coupled with his ability to take it inside has really made him a force to be reckoned with. He should be the best perimeter player on the court each and every night.”

The 2009 season served as a transition year for Pollard. New to Cape Henry he not only had to learn the competition and style of Cape Henry basketball, but he had to learn a new lifestyle within the classrooms and hallways of the school. Clearly more comfortable with his surroundings in his second year as a Dolphin, Pollard has begun to strike fear in the opposition.

And this hasn’t just happened by chance.

“The dedication of off-season workouts has paid huge dividends for him,” Ward continued. Pollard combined work in the weight room with a heavy dose of basketball. The Dolphins assistant coach Frankie Cabrera helped tutor Pollard in the off-season, and he has grown to become one of Hampton Roads most talented players in his class.

After having a solid showing in the Bayside High School Invitational the Dolphins traveled to the Steward Invitational for competition on Friday and Saturday. This is where Pollard had his coming out party. Cape Henry opened the tournament on Friday against Trinity Episcopal, and Pollard dropped in 20 points en route to a 70-47 Dolphins rout. While that was an impressive game, Pollard and the Dolphins raised eyebrows with their performance in the finals against tournament host Steward School.

Fighting through the loss of senior Terrell Allen, who went down with a leg injury in the opening minutes of the game, Pollard took over. When all was said and done Cape Henry took home the Championship trophy with a 66-57 win, and Pollard was responsible for 38 of the 66 points (he dropped in five 3-pointers in the two games as well).”

“Demetrius stepped up and played an amazing game,” Ward finished. “The official looked over at me with 30 seconds left and said ‘this guy is a talent’ and what a night he has had. I don’t think that he took a bad shot all night long, and when the extra pass needed to be made he made it. That is what separates the good players from the great players. If he continues to play at this high level I anticipate that life will become a little easier for Terrell and our other players.”

And that would be a timely relief for the Dolphins. Cape Henry is 7-3 through 10 games, and it starts a busy stretch this week, taking on Cox, Atlantic Shores and First Colonial in a matter of five days. When the Dolphins conclude that stretch they launch into their TCIS schedule, and the results of those games will determine their postseason fate. With Pollard continuing to make his mark on the program and the region, the stretch run is shaping up nicely for the Dolphins.