
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 3, 1992                   TAG: 9203030133
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

BLACKSBURG, MARION IN REGIONAL TOURNEY TONIGHT

If it's regional boys' basketball time, it's time for Blacksburg and Marion to meet. Tonight at 7, the two schools will renew their post-season rivalry in the first round of the Region IV tournament at Blacksburg.

The winner travels to Richlands Thursday. That victor advances to Saturday's regional final and next week's Group AA play.

The rivalry started three years ago when the Indians beat Marion to open regional play. But for the last two years, the Scarlet Hurricane have ousted Blacksburg with a state tourney berth on the line.

"Marion's strong and they're tall," said Blacksburg coach Bob Trear. "And they're quick. They're probably a lot like the team that beat us last year."

Marion (20-4) returns just one starter from the squad that triumphed 73-70 last season: senior Eric Hungate. The 6-foot-1 wing scores about 17 points per game and is Timesland's leading free-thrower at more than 86 percent. He was selected to the all-Highlands District team.

Marion has another all-district player in 6-6 senior post Eddie Boothe. He averages about 18 points, nearly 10 rebounds and four blocked shots per game. He makes more than 57 percent of his shots. Also, point guard Brian Cregger (5 1/2 assists per game) and forward Tim Henson were all-district honorable mentions.

"We're going to look to push it up the court," said Marion coach K.W. Lawson. "Blacksburg looks to play up-tempo too. . . . So we're going to have to play some super defense."

For Blacksburg (17-5) to overcome Marion, it will have to get strong performances from the two players it has depended on all year: Jon Maher and Darren Morton.

Maher, a 6-6 senior center, averages nearly 20 points and more than 10 rebounds per game. "We're going to have to play good, strong defense," said Maher. "We're going to have them adjust to us instead of adjusting to them."

Morton stressed teamwork. After all, the Indians do have four players who shoot more than 50 percent from the field: Chris Smith, Maher, Matt Smith and Kevin Schug.

"We just have to play together," said Morton, who dishes out over seven assists per game while also scoring over 13 points. "Every time we play as a team and we have balanced scoring, no team has come close to us."

by CNB