Delegate W.W. "Ted" Bennett, D-60th, underwent surgery for prostate cancer Friday at Halifax Regional Hospital.
The delegate is not expected to return to the General Assembly for about three weeks. However, he will continue legislative business during his recovery at home through a new computer link for legislators.
"The key to this particular cancer is getting to it early," Bennett said yesterday. "They feel very, very good about it. We are still awaiting some lab test results but they should be in by Wednesday."
Bennett said two factors governed his decision to have the surgery last week.
"An absolute obligation" to a law client's pending case and the chance to return to the General Assembly before it closes its 60-day session.
Earlier, a pending jury trial had swayed Bennett's decision to delay surgery, but circumstances changed in the trial offering the legislator an opportunity to have the surgery now.
"By getting it done early, I will have a bona fide chance of getting back, if not by crossover at least by the end of the session," explained the delegate.
Crossover is the deadline for bills introduced in the House to be approved and passed to the Senate. Senate bills must also be approved and passed to the House during crossover, which is set for February 15.
Committee Assignments
It was also last week that Speaker of the House of Delegates Vance S. Wilkins Jr., R-Amherst, named Bennett co-chair of the 24-member Science and Technology Committee.
Other committee assignments for Bennett included: Mining and Mineral Resources; Corporations, Insurance and Banking; and Education.
All bills must pass a committee before making it to the floor of the House for vote.
"Actually, I was kind of surprised," Bennett said yesterday of the Science and Technology co-chair appointment.
The new position strengthens Bennett's opportunities to affect change in a field long dear to his heart, bringing technology into rural Virginia.
"There is a digital divide between us and urban Virginia and we have got to do something to keep that from becoming worse," he said.
The legislator sees his appointment as "certainly giving me a higher profile," one in which he hopes he can exert a little more influence through control and flow of legislation.
Through his work as co-chair of a sub-committee of the General Assembly's Technology and Science Commission, Bennett had already been investigating avenues to spur technology and economic development and taken action.
"I put together a bill to give tax incentives to those who invest in technology companies that would locate in Southside and Southwest Virginia. I hope that gets through (the General Assembly)," said the legislator.
Roanoke River Basin
The Halifax delegate is also asking fellow legislators for a study committee as he seeks a permanent Citizens Advisory Committee for the Roanoke River Basin.
"After seeing the performance of state and federal agencies, it is clear that unless an active citizens committee is monitoring these rivers, they will not get attention for preservation or economic development," Bennett said.
In other legislative business, Bennett said that he has budget amendments in to increase the number of faculty at the Continuing Education Center.
The push to have Highway 501 enlarged from two to four lanes as it winds its way north from Halifax is also on the legislator's agenda.
"We hope to have a 501 Day and bring bus loads of folks up from Bedford, Campbell and Halifax counties to highlight it and get its head up above the crowd," added Bennett. A date for 501 Day has not been set.
For Legislative Assistance
For legislative assistance during Bennett's recovery, constituents may contact Bryan Gupton in Bennett's Richmond office at (804) 698-1160 or 698-1060. Constituents may contact his Halifax office at (804) 476-1128.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia tobacco farmers and quota owners would not pay state income taxes on their tobacco settlement money under a bill introduced in the General Assembly.
The bill, sponsored by Del. Whitt Clement, D-Danville, and Sen. Charles Hawkins, R-Pittsylvania, would exempt farmers and quota owners from paying state, not federal, income taxes on the payments they receive to compensate them for lost income.
''To me, even the federal government should exempt these monies from taxation,'' Hawk-ins said. ''They aren't income in my opinion. They are compensation for losses.''
''It just seems a bit ironic to provide them cash for their  losses and then turn right around and tax that cash,'' Clement said.

While smokers currently take into consideration price, taste, tar content, availability and perhaps appearance or packaging when picking out their favorite brand, they may begin basing their purchase on nitrosamine content in the near future.
According to Halifax County Extension Agent Larry McPeters, cigarette manufacturers want growers to begin producing flue-cured leaf that is low in tobacco-specific nitrosamines - otherwise known as TSNAs - as soon as possible.
McPeters said that while attending the biennial Tobacco Workers Conference in Williamsburg last week, he noticed that cigarette manufacturers appeared to be united in their desire to purchase low-TSNA leaf for their products.
"There seems to be a complete endorsement of the manufacturers wanting to buy low-nitrosamine tobacco. In fact, one major company has said it would like to buy only tobacco that has been cured with reduced nitrosamines within two to three years," McPeters said.
Low-TSNA Trend
While Petersburg-based Star Scientific was the first company to announce that it had developed a specialized method of curing tobacco that removed almost all of the cancer-causing nitrosamines from the tobacco leaf and that they plan to introduce a low-TSNA cigarette this spring, it did not take long for industry giants R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris to make their own announcements.
Tobacco processed using the StarCure(TM) method is first cured in Star's uniquely-designed Powell bulk barns.
The special barns utilize forced hot air instead of gas-fueled open flames to cure tobacco, Star senior tobacco specialist Mac Bailey of S&M Brands and Bailey's Cigarettes in Keysville explained. By using this process, carbon monoxide from burning fuel is eliminated from the curing barn.
The leaf is then shipped (in bales and sheets) to the plant in Chase City, where it is run through a huge microwave oven (manufactured by Amana) that further eliminates the TSNAs.
During the recently-concluded growing season, Star processed and delivered approximately 3.5 million pounds of StarCure-processed tobacco to Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company, and a great deal of the processed leaf was also purchased by Bailey's Cigarettes.
R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris officials say their companies have developed a one-step curing method designed to reduce nitrosamines in the finished leaf.
During last week's meeting, David Peele, lead researcher with R.J. Reynolds, spoke about modifying curing barns so that the heaters no longer blow exhaust gas across the tobacco, thus reducing the percentage of nitrosamines in flue-cured tobacco.
This conclusion was based on six years of research, Peele said, adding that R.J. Reynolds feels a responsibility to try to reduce a chemical that has been identified as a hazard.
Philip Morris USA has also endorsed the movement toward producing safer tobacco products.
"Philip Morris joined the leadership of flue-cured tobacco growers in an effort to change agronomic practices, such as adding heat exchangers to curing barns that might reduce TSNAs," said company spokesperson Robin Hulsey.
Financing Conversions
This shift to low-nitrosamine tobacco will have a strong impact on the grower community, as producers are struggling to survive three straight quota cuts and a lagging domestic market for their product.
Already, growers say they have been offered contracts by R.J. Reynolds guaranteeing to buy part of their 2000 crop if they modify their barns.
But who will finance these conversions?
"I think it is very important for our producers to be aware that they can reduce the amount of nitrosamines through a curing process," McPeters said. "But farmers can't go out themselves and start converting these barns at $6,000 a barn, especially with the way the current situation is with tobacco. That's a major problem that manufacturers must try to solve, perhaps by offering producers incentives, promises for long-time use, or financial assistance."
Star Scientific tackled this problem by teaming up with Powell Bulk Barns and contracting with growers throughout the flue-cured states.
"Star's curing barn program is in high gear with demand continuing for Star's specially designed and manufactured curing barn, which the company has made available at no cost to farmers and placed on (contract) grower-farms in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Ontario, Canada," said Jim Jennings, Star's recently appointed vice president for grower relations.
According to Jennings, Star's barn program has now resulted in the placement of approximately 275 curing barns, and Star has designed a special pilot project for smaller burley tobacco farmers in Kentucky and other burley-growing states.
The company now has contract commitments for approximately 550 StarCure barns, which are being produced by Powell Manufacturing Company, Inc., of Bennettsville, South Carolina.
Contracts and Stabilization
Contract growing goes hand-in-hand with producing low-nitrosamine tobacco, and is the wave of the future, McPeters said.
"Farmers in the future are going to have to adapt to the idea that if they are going to stay in business, they are going to have to adapt to producing low-nitrosamine tobacco, and curing tobacco is certainly one way to reduce them and currently is what the industry has adopted," McPeters said. "Contract production is on the way, and growers will need the ability to produce the low-nitrosamine tobacco in order to secure these contracts."
However, McPeters said contract growing would not cancel out the need for the stabilization program.
"It is the feeling of producers, especially here in the Southside, that the Stabilization Cooperative Program needs to stay in place to take the tobacco that doesn't meet the grade that the companies set," McPeters said. "You might have a contract to produce a thousand pounds of tobacco, but what if it is a bad year, like last year with the drought, and your tobacco doesn't meet the grade? You need stabilization to buy it, to help market the tobacco you couldn't otherwise market."
Trade Show Topic
Low-nitrosamine tobacco production will be one of the main topics discussed during the upcoming Virginia Tobacco Conference and Trade Show.
The annual event will be held in the Halifax County High School on Saturday, Feb. 12.
The day-long trade show, which takes place in the gymnasium and outside in the parking lot, is designed to provide all who attend an opportunity to examine new products, machinery and tobacco equipment, while the conference addresses state and national issues of importance to tobacco producers and allotment holders.
Representatives from McGuire, Woods, Battle and Boothe LLP, legal counsel to the Virginia Tobacco Trust Certification Board, will also be on hand throughout the day to answer questions.

NEW YORK (AP) - The nation's two biggest tobacco companies are boosting cigarette prices in a move that analysts say could add as much as 18 cents per pack at the store.
Philip Morris, owner of the best-selling Marlboro brand, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., which makes the Winston, Salem and Camel brands, announced the price rise Friday.
The Philip Morris increase of 13 cents a pack wholesale goes into effect with shipments Monday, spokesman Michael Pfeil said. Reynolds' 13 cents-per-pack increase is effective with Tuesday shipments, spokeswoman Jan Smith said.
Other tobacco companies are expected to match the increases.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) - In other times, a crowd lined up outside a door might indicate a special sale or tickets to a hot football game or concert.
In Southside Virginia these days, it's more likely to be a crowd  attracted by the possibility of a job or an offer of unemployment a ssistance.
Mike Morton was among such a crowd filling a high school  auditorium recently. After 20 years working at sweat-suit maker Tultex Corp., Morton, 40, is looking to replace the only full-time job he's had.
''It's gone and it hurts me,'' Morton said. ''I've got to start over.''
With the recent loss of more than 3,300 textile and apparel  jobs, Martinsville area officials are scrambling to find emergency assistance and new jobs for the former employees of Tultex and of other struggling manufacturers in the area.
The Henry County Board of Supervisors will meet Monday with the former workers to hear their concerns, then discuss what assistance the county should seek from the state before the Jan. 24 deadline for introducing bills during this General Assembly term.
It has been about a month since many Tultex workers lost their jobs, Henry County Administrator Sid Clower said. ''Maybe their concerns have changed, or something they hadn't thought of previously has become a greater problem. We want them to have this opportunity to convey those thoughts to us before we go ahead with our package.''
A Martinsville mainstay since 1937, Tultex became a leading  manufacturer, marketer and distributor of active wear and licensed sports apparel. The company's presence helped Martinsville earn the title of ''Sweat Shirt Capital of the World.''
But on Dec. 3, 1999, Tultex filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and  announced that the company was eliminating 3,300 of its 4,400 jobs.  Over the following weeks, the company issued several other layoff  notices.
Then, last Monday, Tultex announced that it was essentially  giving up on Martinsville, immediately closing its last manufacturing plant there and immediately laying off another 285 workers. All that will remain are about 140 administrative jobs in the corporate headquarters.
Tultex is seeking to reorganize as an active-wear marketer and  distributor. Its remaining operations will be California Shirt Sales and T-Shirt City distributors and its Discus Athletic business.
Tultex's closing is costing Henry County and Martinsville more than 2,000 jobs and South Boston about 400. Several other manufacturing companies, including Pluma, Ashmore Sportswear and Visy Protective Packaging, also have cut jobs or closed.
County officials estimate that since September the area has lost 3,300 jobs and $50.6 million in annual payroll, officials said.
The Virginia Employment Commission said unemployment in the Martinsville area had already risen from 9 percent in October to 15.2 percent in November, before the Tultex layoffs.
In early January, Virginia received $7.3 million in federal funds to assist workers who lose their jobs because of foreign competition. Former Tultex workers will get an additional $1.2 million under a federal grant to help them find new jobs.
Henry County already has financial help available for the county's displaced textile workers, contributing more than $300,000 to provide a no-interest loan program, waiving penalties on delinquent real estate and personal-property tax payments for the workers and establishing an emergency fund for displaced workers who need it.
A job fair Thursday drew more than 1,000 people, many of whom were lined up about an hour before the doors opened, to see nearly 60 job recruiters. Participants included various textile and furniture manufacturing companies as well as the Martinsville police department, the Navy and several schools.
Ogretha Taylor, a 39-year-old Tultex worker, had several interviews and felt good about the interest shown by several recruiters. Her only desire is to make the nearly $10 an hour she now earns and she's willing to move.
''I know that I need a job,'' she said. ''I've got bills and debts that I need to pay.''
Others were not so encouraged. Teawanda Wade, an office worker at Tultex, said she could not find many opportunities.
''Mostly they are looking for the plant workers,'' she said.
The Martinsville area is not alone in facing economic difficulties.
Last week, Danville-based textile maker Dan River Inc. announced that it is moving a weaving operation and its 488 jobs from its Danville plant to Mexico.

A South Boston man was arrested Friday by sheriff's deputies on charges of armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.
Jay Francis Anderson, 41, of Wickham Street, was charged with the December 3 robbery of Jagdishbhaim Patel.
While the amount of money taken in the alleged robbery was not specified, the amount did exceed $200 in U.S. currency.
Anderson was also charged with the use of a firearm while committing a robbery.
In addition, Anderson faces four charges from an alleged December 10 attempt of armed robbery.
Anderson is charged with the attempted armed robbery of Antoniol Darden II, use of a firearm to commit an attempted armed robbery, conspiring with another to commit an attempted armed robbery and brandishing a firearm to induce fear.
Another South Boston resident, Lowell David Miller, 23, of Wickham Street, was arrested Thursday on multiple charges stemming from the alleged armed robbery of Patel and attempted armed robbery of Darden.
· Gus Wells Jr., 28, of Indian Trail in Buffalo Junction, was arrested Friday by sheriff's deputies for possessing a weapon on school property.
Wells was charged after he allegedly possessed a .380-caliber automatic pistol on school property on the day of the arrest.
A hearing for Wells is scheduled on January 19 in Halifax County General District Court.
· April Ann Borden, 29, of Henderson, N.C., was arrested Saturday by sheriff's deputies on charges of felonious assault.
The offenses occurred on November 12 when Borden allegedly attempted to cause bodily harm to Tom Edward Glaizer.
Borden is also charged with the assault and battery of Glaizer.
· A Nathalie man was arrested Sunday by sheriff's deputies on the charge of assault and battery.
Kenneth Harold Stewart, 34, of Clarkton Road, was charged with the alleged assault and battery of Christopher Stewart on Saturday.
Stewart is scheduled to appear in Halifax County General District Court on January 19.

A Nathalie man faces the possibility of life in prison following his conviction on multiple drug charges in federal court last week.
Robert James Graves, 55, of Kitty's Lane, was convicted in U.S. District Court in Lynchburg on Wednesday of eight counts of distribution of crack cocaine, one count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and conducting a continuing criminal enterprise under the Drug Kingpin Statute, according to Major R.S.B. Pulliam with the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Pulliam, coordinator of the Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force, said Graves faces a minimum of 20 years to multiple life sentences for conviction of these charges.
Graves was arrested with Mark Anthony "Dooney" Graves, also of Kitty Lane, and Jarrett Graves, 33, of Alchies Lane, Nathalie, on federal, multi-count indictments for distribution and conspiracy to distribute cocaine following a 16-month investigation in the Cody and Volens areas of Halifax County.
The three-day jury trial began on Monday, Jan. 10, with five individuals charged in the same crack cocaine conspiracy pleading guilty.
Jarrett Graves pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of crack cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine were David O'Brien Burford, 44, of Gladys; Derek O'Brien "Boo Boo" Burford, 24, of West End Street, Brookneal; Donnell Orlando Burford, 19, of Gladys; and Pierre Lamone Clark, 19, of Gladys.
Mark Anthony Graves was also tried on a charge of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, which resulted in a hung jury, Pulliam said. This trial will be rescheduled in the near future.

By Michael A. Paige
Once performing coffee-table routines at age four for his family and friends, Joseph Haskins, a 12-year-old self-taught dancer and rising star from Scottsburg, is heading for New York City to participate in the King and Queen competitions at the Apollo Theater on January 23.
Haskins is among eight of the country's most talented children who will vie for the royal titles.
A winner of multiple competitions, Haskins received a rare standing ovation at the Apollo during an August 27, 1999, performance to Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal." The show aired on ABC television on October 9.
It was back in June of 1999 when Haskins learned from a radio announcement that the McDonald's Apollo Kids Talent Search competition would be held in July at the South Square Mall in Durham, N.C.
Haskins worked on his routine using a storage room at the back of the house, which has been converted into a studio with black-and-white tiled floor, a stereo system and a full mirrored wall, to choreograph his own steps and movement.
"I was very excited because we had sent two videos to New York already in trying to get Joseph at the Apollo," said Nancy Haskins, Joseph's mother.
"And now the talent search was coming close enough for him to get in on it," Nancy added.
In the first round of competition, Joseph was among 40 other youngsters, all very talented and seeking a chance to appear in New York.
Haskins performed in a white tuxedo and was in the second round of 10 chosen competitors for the afternoon.
Eight semi-finalists were selected, including Haskins, to return to Durham on August 7, to join with semi-finalists from three other competitions in North Carolina for a third round.
There were 34 performers and the judges picked 12 to compete in the afternoon.
Haskins performed his "Smooth Criminal" routine taking the Grand Prize.
After his standing ovation and encore, Haskins was selected among the eight to have the opportunity to compete in the prestigious King and Queen competition.
He won airline and hotel accommodations in New York and the honor of appearing on stage at the Apollo.
A sixth-grader at Scottsburg Elementary, Haskins has expanded his talents beyond dancing to include singing lessons with Courtney Thomasson, a local voice coach from South Boston, and formal training in dance from Danya Mehalko at the Dance Arts Center in Danville. He has also taken up drums, which he practices daily in self-taught rhythms.
Joseph is a member of the Bethel Baptist Church and his other interests include bowling, roller blades and soccer. He has a brother, Kendall, a 10th-grader and a sister, Carrie, a senior at Halifax County High School.
Charles Haskins, Joseph's father, had learned to value a child's dream. When he was younger, he had experienced the handicap of having no money or transportation to enhance his desires.
He was determined it would be otherwise with Joseph. Charles, an employee at Burlington Industries in Halifax, and Nancy, who works at Louisiana-Pacific in Roxboro, N.C., have managed to provide Joseph with the resources needed to enhance his accomplishments.
"There's no pressure.
"It is his decision whether he wants to do it or not," said Charles.
After his performance in New York, Joseph was invited to perform in San Francisco.
"On December 8, we got a call from the producer at the Apollo informing us that Joseph had been chosen for the finals," said Nancy.
However, there was a complication. Nancy said the producer of the show had informed them that Joseph could not use the mastercut of "Smooth Criminal," a dance routine of very intricate moves, without a proper license.
The Apollo would go into negotiations with Epic Records to secure permission to use the mastercut, but, in the meanwhile, the Haskins were looking for an alternative.
"We were looking for another mastercut that we thought Joseph could dance to and we could also get permission to use," said Nancy.
Their answer came from Coldhouse Records, Cooper Enterprises and the Soul Dawgs from Danville.
"They were gracious to give us permission to use the song 'Keep Movin' from their first CD," said Nancy.
"We were very much in appreciation of their generosity and kindness. As it turned out, we will not need to use 'Keep Movin,'" added Nancy.
On January 5, the Haskins were informed by the Apollo producer that a license for "Smooth Criminal" had been obtained and that Joseph could use the mastercut in his performance.
Although not yet confirmed, a tentative air date for the King and Queen competition on "It's Showtime at the Apollo" will be March 4.
On February 6, Joseph will appear on the March of Dimes Telethon in Danville.
Back in April of 1999, Joseph won first place in his age category in WBTM's Rising Star Talent Show; he placed first in competitions held at the Kirby Civic Auditorium in Roxboro, N.C., the Danville City Auditorium and Burlington's Bigalow.
On September 18, Joseph appeared in a 30-minute show at the Carousel Festival in Burlington, N.C.; he was in the Country Christmas Classic held in November in Gretna; and he has performed at the County Fair with the 4-H Club.
With the exposure of meeting individuals from all over the country, Joseph has built a network of possibilities.
A talent agent from California has even attempted to secure the rights to promote Joseph in commercials.
In the studio, however, Joseph is preparing for the big prize, that grand title on January 23 that crowns his efforts of dancing on coffee tables.

The hole the Halifax County High School Blue Comets are sinking in is getting deeper with each game.
Halifax County lost its Western District home opener to the Albemarle Patriots 59-37 Friday night in what was one of the team's worst defeats of the season.
The loss marked the Comets' fourth straight defeat and dropped their overall record to 5-6.
"We keep saying we'll eventually get to the bottom," said Comets coach Garrett Dillard.
"I guess that bottom keeps getting deeper. Eventually, we're going to have to do something to get out of this hole. We might have to change the whole game plan and just try something totally different from what we've been doing."
Only one other time this season have the Comets lost by a larger margin. That loss was a 25-point defeat at the hands of nationally ranked Mt. Zion.
The fact that there was such a large margin of victory was surprising, even to Albemarle coach Greg Maynard.
"I had expected a game that was nip and tuck and go down to the wire," Maynard said, "and whoever made the good plays down the stretch in the fourth quarter would come out on top. That's the way Halifax-Albemarle games have been over the years."
This one wasn't.
As has been the case in the last couple of Comets games, the third period determined the outcome.
The Comets were unable to make the scoring the surge they needed when they needed to make it.
Albemarle sat back in a zone defense that opened up opportunities for the Comets to get good eight-to 15-foot jump shots throughout the game.
But, as has been the case in recent games, the Comets couldn't hit them, especially in the second half.
The Comets hit only nine of their 27 shots from the floor in the first half and only five of 31 attempts in the second half. That amounted to just over 24 percent for the game.
"We didn't take a lot of bad shots," Dillard explained.
"We took some long shots but they were open.
"We missed 44 shots," he continued.
"I'd have never thought we shot that badly. It's horrible. We can't win ball games shooting like that."
The Patriots set up a "box and one" defense aimed at the Comets' top shooter, Fred Price. And, it worked.
Price hit only two field goals, those being a pair of three-pointers in the first period. He finished with seven points after being held scoreless in the second half and fouling out of the contest with 6:27 left in the game.
"We worked on it in practice," Dillard said.
"We knew they were going to run that box and one on Fred. We worked on guys setting a lot of screens and having Fred come off of it and just didn't get anybody setting those screens to get Fred open."
Maynard said Price was the focal point of his team's defensive effort.
" I knew he could hit the outside jumpers real well," Maynard remarked.
"And, we wanted to clog up the inside on Jennings and Mosley and hope the other guys wouldn't kill us from outside. We were fortunate tonight that they weren't hot."
The Comets hit only four field goals in the third period and one in the fourth period as they scored only nine points and six points respectively in the final two periods.
The Patriots held a five point 27-22 lead at the half, but the Comets got a basket from Cardell Mosley to pull within three points at 27-24. Albemarle countered with two baskets in a short 16-second span to run the lead to seven points.
Halifax had four shots at the hoop on its next possession but came up empty. Albemarle then tacked on four unanswered points and went up by 11 points with 6:21 left in the third period.
William Jennings and Teddy Bradley combined to hit a pair of baskets and cut the Patriots' lead to seven points. Albemarle ran the lead back to nine points but William Haugh answered that call with his only basket of the night to cut the lead back to seven points a second time.
Albemarle outscored the Comets 7-1 over the final 3:15 of the period to take a 13-point 44-31 lead at the end of the period.
The Comets never recovered.
Another 7-1 run by the Patriots to start the fourth period left the Comets trailing 51-32 with 5:37 to play.
Within that first three and a half minutes, Price picked up his final two fouls and went to the sidelines for good with 6:27 left, taking away the Comets' top scoring threat.
With Price on the sidelines and the Comets trailing by 19 points, the Patriots went on another run, this one a 5-0 surge and went up 56-33 with just over three minutes to play.
A free throw by Jennings with 2:26 left in the game and a three-pointer by guard Sterling Williams with 1:56 left were the final two Comets' scores in the game.
The Comets played well early, leading much of the first period that ended in a 12-12 deadlock.
Even after falling behind by five points with 3:21 left in the first half, the Comets battled back with back-to-back baskets from Jennings and Mosley to cut the Patriots' lead to one point at 21-20 with 1:49 left in the first half.
But, the Patriots hit a pair of three-pointers in the last 1:05 of the half and spurted to a 27-22 halftime lead.
Price led the Comets with seven first half points and Jennings scored six. And, Jennings and Mosley spurred the defensive effort.
Jennings and Mosley both blocked two shots in the first period and Mosley had one steal. And, in the second period, Mosley blocked two more shots and swatted two passes by the Patriots aside.
"I thought the guys played hard the first half," Dillard said.
"And, even in the third quarter when they (Albemarle) got the lead I thought we played hard.
"We made some silly mistakes and gave them a few easy baskets," Dillard pointed out.
"We missed a lot of shots," Dillard continued, "and we stopped getting the ball inside. When we came out the second half, we didn't do the same things we did the first half."

Forfeits both gave and took away wins for the Halifax County High School wrestling team.
The Comets split a pair of Thursday contests, first losing a 39-38 contest against Hargrave, and later gaining a 48-32 win over Chatham.
Despite the split, the Comets upped their record to 5-8 on the season with the five wins tying the team's best win total in two seasons.
And, the outing continued a recent surge that has given the Comets wins in four of their last six outings.
The difference in the contests was forfeits.
Halifax County had to give up two forfeits worth a total of 12 team points in both contests.
Those forfeits were devastating to the Comets in the contest against Hargrave which they lost by a single point.
But, in the nightcap against Chatham, Chatham gave up forfeits in four weight classes, as compared to two by the Comets.
That resulted in a 12-point swing in the Comets' favor in the contest which the Comets won by a 16-point margin.
The one-point loss to Hargrave was a tough one to take. Yet, the Comets bounced back to win over Chatham in a good performance.
"It was a tough one to lose," Comets coach Brady Taylor said of the loss to Hargrave.
"I'd almost rather lose by 25 than to lose by one.
"The loss worried me because the team could have folded against Chatham. But, they rebounded well. The win is a huge boost of confidence going into the E.C. Glass match (later this week)."
Forfeits were costly to the Comets in the contest against Hargrave.
As has been the case in a majority of instances this season, the Comets had to forfeit the 112-pound and 160-pound weight classes, losses that resulted in an immediate 12-point deficit.
That 12-point deficit made the difference.
Halifax County picked up seven wins in the match against Hargrave, five of them coming in the heart of the middle weights.
The Comets trailed 21-0 after the first four weight classes but reeled off five wins in a row to take a 26-21 lead.
Mike Neff, competing in the 130-pound class and Jacob Jennings, competing in the 145-pound class, scored wins by major decisions with Neff recording a 12-2 victory and Long scoring a 10-4 win.
Comets 135-pounder Jason Long, 140-pounder Charlie Hall, and 152-pounder Brian Hall were the winners in the sweep of the middle weights.
Halifax County forfeited the 160-pound class, handing the lead back to Hargrave at 27-26.
Hargrave won the 171-pound weight class to go up 33-26. The Comets' 189-pounder David Adams pinned his opponent to bring the Comets back to within a point at 33-32.
The hosts won the 215-pound weight class to go up by seven points and seal the match.
Halifax County's 275-pounder, Kevin Smith, pinned his man in the final contest of the match but it was too little too late as the Comets fell a digit shy.
"Our middle weights did it again," Taylor pointed out.
"And, David Adams put us in the position to win. We just couldn't make up for the forfeits."
Halifax County won eight of the 14 weight classes in the nightcap against Chatham with 119-pounder Nick Wilson, 125-pounder Chris Emory, 215-pounder Alex Haynie, and Smith, the heavyweight, earning wins by forfeits.
The Comets' four other victories, those from Neff, Long, Charlie Hall, and Brian Hall, coming by pins.
"We needed to pick up a win against Chatham," Taylor pointed out.
"We got some help from forfeits for a change and that allowed us to get by Chatham.
"Neff, Jason, Charlie and Brian all wrestled great," added Taylor.
"They got the pins we needed."
Halifax County fell behind 10-0 after the first two weight classes but, with five consecutive wins, rallied to take a 30-10 lead.
The Comets held a 20 point edge going into the 160-pound weight class but two wins and a victory by a major decision brought Chatham to within four points at 36-32 with the final two weight classes remaining.
Chatham forfeited the last two weight classes, giving the Comets an uncontested 12 points and the win.

Dorothy Mills Guill, age 88, of Halifax, died January 14, 2000.
Mrs. Guill was born January 10, 1912, in the Millstone community of Halifax County. She was the daughter of Leslie Dibrell Mills and Katherine Blanks Mills and was married to William Nolan Guill. She was a member of Beth Car Baptist Church. After attending Virginia Intermont College, Mrs. Guill worked as the clerk of trial justice court for many years. She then served in the Halifax Post Office and retired in 1976 as Postmaster. She was sa charter member of Banister River Garden Club and a National Flower Show judge. In 1997 the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc. honored her as a Master Judge Emeritus for her many years of hard work and devotion.
Survivors include her husband; one son, William Nolan Guill Jr. of Hillsborough, N.C.; one daughter, Mary Guill Doherty of Raleigh, N.C.; four grandchildren, William Nolan Guill III, Sarah Guill Porterfield, Katherine Roark Guill and Richard Avris Hopp; two great grandchildren, Bryce Dillon Porterfield and Bret Tyler Porterfield; and one sister, Margaret Mills Bowman of New Hope, Pa.
A memorial service for Mrs. Guill was held Sunday, January 16 at 3 p.m. at Beth Car Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Stewart and Rev. Dr. Melvin Bradshaw officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Beth Car Baptist Church, Patrick Henry Boys Home or Halifax County Rescue Squad.

William Jordan Hudson of 2229 Hudson Road, Virgilina died January 14, 2000 at his home.
Mr. Hudson was born in Halifax County on December 24, 1921 and was 78 years old. He was the son of James William Hudson and Naomi Wilborn Hudson. He was a member of North Fork Baptist Church, served in the World War II and was a member of China Marines. He was also a tobacco farmer.
Survivors include one sister, Doris E. Hudson, of Virgilina; one brother, Charles K. Hudson, of Richmond; four nieces: Frances A. Perkins and her husband, James, of South Boston; Ruby A. Thompson and her husband, Fred, of Richmond; Mary Lou A. Dunn and her husband, Howard, of Danville; Libby A. Slagle and her husband Roger, of Cluster Springs and one nephew, William T. Arrington and wife, Joan of Virgilina.
Funeral services for Mr. Hudson were held Sunday, January 16 at 2:00 p.m. at North Fork Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill LaWall officiating. Burial took place in the North Fork Baptist Church Cemetery, Virgilina.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Midway Volunteer Fire Department, North Fork Baptist Church or the charity of your choice.

Keister Conelious Perkins of 1105 Union Church Road, Halifax, died January 14, 2000 at his home.
Mr. Perkins was born in Halifax County on September 29, 1920 and was 79 years old. He was the son of Joseph Perkins and Mamie Lee Simmons Perkins and was married to Margaret Conner Perkins. He attended Revelation Baptist Church.
Mr. Perkins is survived by: his wife, Margaret C. Perkins, of Halifax; one daughter, Wanda and husband Dale Womack, of Scottsburg; four grandchildren: Jennifer Lynne Womack, Jonathan Dale Womack, Jonci Nicole Womack and Kevin Owen Perkins; one sister: Bernice Spencer, of Crystal Hill; five brothers: Branford L. Perkins, of Halifax; Theodore E. Perkins, of Halifax; Lawrence Perkins, of Cluster Springs, Wesley M. Perkins, of Halifax; and Thurman F. Perkins, of Halifax. He was preceded in death by one son, Keister Vann Perkins; two brothers, Uley W. Perkins and Howard Perkins; three sisters: Ethel Perkins, Alleen Stevens and Doris McDaniel.
Funeral services for Mr. Perkins were held Sunday, January 16 at 2:0 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs conducting the service. Burial took place in Oak Ridge cemetery.

Violet Elise Blanks Powell Vaughan of 1017 Easley Crossing Trail, Scottsburg, died Saturday, January 15, 2000 at Duke Medical Center.
Mrs. Vaughan was born in Halifax County on September 11, 1926 and was 73 years old. She was the daughter of John Will Blanks and Annie Loftis Blanks and was married to Andrew Greer Vaughan.
She was a member of Scottsburg Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School and was a choir member.
Survivors include her husband: Andrew Greer Vaughan, of Scottsburg; one daughter, Brenda M. Jones, of Vernon Hill; one son, William Boyce Powell, of Sutherlin; six grandchildren: Lisa Carol Moore, of Scottsburg; Rhonda Lynn Moore, of Roxboro, NC; Giles Edwin Jones Jr., of Vernon Hill; Suzanne Jones Duffer, of Vernon Hill; Wendy Dawn Jones, of Vernon Hill; William Boyce Powell, Jr, of Sutherlin; three great grandchildren; two brothers: James Johnson Blanks, of South Boston and Dennis L. Blanks, of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mrs. Vaughan will be held Tuesday, January 18 at 2:00 p.m. at Scottsburg Baptist Church with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs and the Rev. H. V. Conner conducting the service. Burial will take place in Oakland Cemetery in Scottsburg.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Monday from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. and at other times at the home 1017 Easley Crossing Trail in Scottsburg.
Those wishing to give memorials are ask to consider the Scottsburg Baptist Church.