Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 23, 1991 TAG: 9102230216
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But while Hampden-Sydney will have to sweat out the next 36 hours hoping for kind sentiments from the selection committee, Emory & Henry gets a chance tonight to make the process a moot point.
Emory & Henry earned a working margin at the end of the first half, survived a second-half surge and advanced to the ODAC championship game with an 83-75 victory over the Tigers at the Salem Civic Center.
The second-seeded Wasps (24-3), ranked 16th in Division III, can take the ODAC's automatic NCAA bid and avenge a one-point loss in last year's final by beating top-seeded Randolph-Macon (24-2) at 8:30 tonight.
"We're happy to be here again," said Wasps coach Bob Johnson. "Revenge is not a factor. When you play a team the quality of Randolph-Macon, you don't think about revenge."
After seeing the Tigers (21-6) whittle an 11-point deficit to 79-75 in the final two minutes, former Northside player Jimmy Allen made a free throw, and DeWayne Moore scored a breakaway layup with 15 seconds left to seal the victory.
Leon Hill led the Wasps with 20 points, and Major Warner and Craig McLaughlin scored 13 each. Former Patrick Henry star Russell Turner led Hampden-Sydney with a game-high 27 points and 14 rebounds.
"I feel like it was do or die," said Tigers coach Tony Shaver. "We'll hold out hope that the selection committee will look at our strength of schedule. Unfortunately it's in their hands, and we didn't want to do that."
After a nip-and-tuck first 10 minutes that featured four ties and lead changes, Emory & Henry closed with a 21-10 run and took a 38-28 lead.
Former Northside star Derek Elmore broke a 17-17 tie with a turnaround jumper from the baseline. Then Leon Hill made a steal and drove all the way for a layup.
Hampden-Sydney turned over the ball, and Major Warren scored a jump hook to put the Wasps up 23-17.
The Tigers cut the lead back to four at 25-21, but Cary Perkins and Brian Witcher then scored. Craig McLaughlin was credited with a basketball off a goaltending call and Emory & Henry led 32-21.
Hampden-Sydney got as close as eight, but Hill sank a baseline jumper with five seconds left.
Warner led Emory & Henry with 10 first half points. Turner had 10 points and 8 rebounds for Hampden-Sydney.
HAMP.-SYDNEY FGFTRAFPT Barber 3-84-738110Musilli 0-10-01000Benefiel 0-00-20010Mulquin 2-45-65009Carnohan 3-70-01217Vick 3-40-02137Wilson 1-42-21125Pomeroy 2-42-26236Turner 12-163-5141327Williams 2-70-00154Totals 28-5516-2436161975 EMORY & HENRY FGFTRAFPTAllen 1-51-33123Perkins 3-40-00239Elmore 2-63-42337Moore 2-20-15124Witcher 6-70-030212Hill 8-132-354520Warner 6-101-261213McLaughlin 4-85-943213Kirtley 0-72-22002Totals 32-6214-2431152183Rebounds include team rebounds Score by periods: Hampden-Sydney 28-47-75 Emory & Henry 38-45-83
Three-point goals - Hampden-Sydney: Barber 0-2, Carnohan 1-3, Vick 1-1, Wilson 1-3, Turner 0-1, Totals 3-10. Emory & Henry: Allen 0-2, Perkins 3-4, Elmore 0-1, Hill 2-3, Kirtley 0-3, Totals 5-13.
Turnovers - Hampden-Sydney 18 (Barber 4, Pomeroy 4); Emory & Henry 12 (Warner 4). Blocked shots - Hampden-Sydney 3 (three with 1); Emory & Henry 1 (Hill). Steals - Hampden-Sydney 7 (Barber, Turner 2); Emory & Henry 10 (Hill, Moore 3).
Technical fouls - None. Officials - Stone, Bennett, Bostic.
by CNB