Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 18, 1993 TAG: 9303180133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MARION LENGTH: Medium
COVINGTON FALLS SHORT
Covington's Van Wallace wanted to take charge, but he charged.With the Cougars trailing Twin Springs by a point in the final seconds of Wednesday's Group A boys' basketball tournament game, Wallace drove from the top of the key and leaned in for a 15-foot jumper - a possible game-winner.
Wallace and defender Wes Salyer crashed to the floor, a whistle blew, the ball bounced off the rim and the Cougars' standout was tagged for an offensive foul with 5.5 seconds left.
The Titans spent the final ticks of the clock and held on for a 61-60 win at Marion High School.
After the game, Twin Springs (19-6) left directly for Charlottesville, where it will face Prince Edward County (23-5) tonight in the state semifinals at University Hall.
Salyer finished with three points, nine rebounds and the game-saving defensive play.
"When [Wallace] gets the ball, he just goes to the basket," Salyer said. "I just worked for position. When I heard the whistle, I just looked [at the referee] for the hand behind the head. Then I knew it was all over.
"That's about the only thing I'm good at. I'm not much of a scorer - just rebounding and charges."
Wallace, who sparkled with a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds against the taller Titans, had a different view of the final seconds.
"[Salyer] jumped with me and I fell on top of him," Wallace said. "I thought he fouled me."
Twin Springs coach Lee Clark said he was surprised to see the call at that stage of the game, but Salyer "is excellent at positioning. He has been his whole career."
Covington (17-10) trailed 35-28 early in the third quarter but rallied with a 21-5 run to finish the quarter ahead 49-40. Point guard Keeno Jones had 12 of his 18 in the surge and Wallace added six.
The Titans used a late 16-3 run - nine points by Landon Bays, seven by Chad Ervin - to take a 61-56 lead with 1:38 to go. Jones and Deshaun Cassells each scored a bucket and Twin Springs had two turnovers to set up the big finish.
"It was just a great high school basketball game, what state tournaments are all about," Covington coach Brad Morton said.
"The winning coach is glad to get through and the losers know they came within an inch of the final four within the state. We played as well as we could play. We were heavy underdogs and outsized.
"We got the shot we wanted. There are a lot of little things in a game, and that last play was not the deciding factor." \
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