Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 18, 1993 TAG: 9303180208
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MARION LENGTH: Medium
BUFFALOES FALL 52-40
Hurley's surly defense and a 10-day layoff doomed Floyd County's postseason run.Hurley, runner-up in both its district and regional tournament, outplayed Floyd 52-40 in a Group A state boys' basketball tournament game Wednesday at Marion High School.
The loss ended the Buffaloes' six-game tournament winning streak and ended their season at 20-7. Hurley (20-6) will face unbeaten Franklin (27-0) tonight in Charlottesville in a semifinal game.
In the first game of Wednesday's Region D sweep, Twin Springs edged Covington 61-60. The Titans will play Prince Edward County in the other semifinal tonight.
Cold shooting and errors - forced and unforced - plagued Floyd down the stretch.
"I thought we had key turnovers at critical times," said Floyd coach Alan Cantrell, who took his girls' team to the state championship game this school year. "At one point, we were down three, we had two straight steals and we turned it right back over.
"Those turnovers, especially in the second half, kept us from getting into a flow and doing the things we would like to on offense. Of course, their tough defense caused some of those turnovers."
The Buffaloes led 22-21 at the half and 30-23 on a Jason Light layup midway through the third quarter. In the next 10:29, the Buffaloes got only one field goal and four points.
Hurley took control with a 19-4 run - starting with a Leslie Baker bucket in the third quarter and ending on a 3-pointer by Tomboy Justus with 2:32 left in the game. Tomboy Justus' bomb gave the Rebels a 42-34 lead.
Floyd closed to 44-40 on a Phillip Marshall 3-pointer with 1:04 left but didn't score again. Hurley hit enough free throws (10-of-15) in the final 1:43 to finish off Floyd.
The Rebels outscored the Buffaloes 23-8 in the final quarter.
"Defense turned the whole game around," said John Potter, who led Hurley with 21 points. "I was kind of nervous when we were down, but we knew hard defense would get us back in it."
Duane Nichols led Floyd with 15 points. Light, who had been a postseason force in the post, was held to nine points.
"We kept bragging on Light in practice, so naturally the kids took offense," said Hurley coach Harold Horne, whose team is 15-2 after a 5-4 start. "The team stepped up to stop him. Team defense has been our strength all year."
Cantrell said his team didn't take care of the ball as it had in its previous postseason games.
"This group worked hard down the stretch and put it together in the tournaments," Cantrell said. "I was concerned about the layoff because we were really in a good routine."
Each team made 17 field goals, but Hurley outscored Floyd 15-3 at the free-throw line.
\ Twin Springs 61, Covington 60: With the Cougars trailing Twin Springs by a point in the final seconds of the Group A game, Covington's Van 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 (19-6) spent the final ticks of the clock and held on for the victory.
Salyer finished with three points, nine rebounds and the game-saving defensive play.
Covington ended the season 17-10. \
see microfilm for box score