Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 8, 1990 TAG: 9003081429
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
That's when J.I. Burton's Tommy Shrader hit a desperation shot on the run from near midcourt.
After that, nearly everything went the Black Raiders' way as they rolled to a 74-59 victory in the first round of the Group A boys' high school basketball tournament.
J.I. Burton (22-4) will play defending Group A champion Fluvanna County, a 68-32 winner over Suffolk, in the state semifinals Friday at 2 p.m.
Bland (20-7) heads home after reaching the state tournament for the first time since 1964 when the Rockets completed a run of three consecutive championships in the old Group III classification.
"I thought that kind of broke our momentum when he hit that last-second shot," said Bland coach Rich Hankins. The Rockets had either led or been tied for most of the first quarter until Shrader's shot.
By the half, Bland was down by eight points, and the Rockets quickly fell behind by 16 points midway of the third quarter.
The last-second shot wasn't the only thing that hampered Bland.
Patrick Smith, the team's second-leading scorer with a 16.4 average, had been plagued by foul problems from the start when he picked up two in the first three minutes.
Smith fouled out with 2:59 left in the third period on two more quick fouls.
"We had to take a chance and play him. We were so far behind," said Hankins.
Bland, even without Smith, climbed back into the game. The Rockets went on an 11-2 spurt in the final three minutes of the third period to close within 49-43. David King led the charge with seven points, including a 3-point shot that had the crowd buzzing.
Then the Rockets fell behind when J.I. Burton scored the first five points of the final period.
"I think fatigue was a factor," said Hankins. "We were 15 down and had to play all-out for 15 minutes. And when you don't have a player like Smith, that happens."
J.I. Burton also had a lot to do with Bland's demise. The Black Raiders' defense picked up in the second quarter, as did the offense of their star player, Reecie Gravely, who missed six straight shots in the first quarter, when he was held scoreless.
"Reecie had the flu and was up all night. I was surprised he played as long as he did," said J.I. Burton coach Stan Wilson.
Gravely got stronger as he went along. He scored 21 points and had a game-high 10 rebounds. He also went 9-for-13 after the first-quarter drought.
As for the defense, Wilson had Bland figured out. It was a matter of getting his players to do what he wanted them to do.
"We did too much standing the first part of the game," said Wilson. "We wanted to cut off their passing lanes and stop their motion offense. It was a matter that our legs wouldn't move. We finally got it going in the third quarter."
Bland wound up with 18 turnovers.
The Rockets occasionally were frustrated when they tried to go to 6-foot-6 Chad Thompson, but they still found him often enough for him to score a game-high 24 points. He also pulled down nine rebounds.
"They did a good job of overplaying us on the low post," Hankins said. "We tried to force it in a couple of times and they picked up some steals." BLAND (59)
Munsey 4-7 0-0 8, Smith 2-5 1-2 5, Thompson 11-21 2-3 24, Mustard 0-4 0-1 0, King 7-14 0-1 17, Kegley 1-4 0-0 2, Bird 0-1 0-0 0, Meadows 1-2 0-0 3, Faulkner 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-59 3-7 59. J.I. BURTON (74)
Gravely 9-19 3-4 21, Ellis 3-4 0-0 6, Bevins 8-11 1-2 17, Shrader 3-11 5-8 13, Bright 3-5 0-3 7, Price 3-5 0-0 6, McCall 0-1 0-0 0, Cochrane 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 31-59 9-17 74. Bland11 11 21 16 - 59 J.I. Burton14 16 19 25 - 74
Three-point goals: Bland 4-12 (Smith 0-1, Mustard 0-1, King 3-7, Bird 0-1, Meadows 1-2). J.I. Burton 3-10 (Shrader 2-6, Bright 1-3, McCall 0-1). Assists: Bland 11 (Mustard 3, Kegley 3), J.I. Burton 17 (Shrader 8). Steals: Bland 9 (Kegley 4), J.I. Burton 8 (Gravely 3, Bright 3). Turnovers: Bland 18 (Mustard 7), J.I. Burton 19 (Shrader 7). Team fouls: Bland 14, J.I. Burton 12. Fouled out: Smith.
by CNB