Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 2, 1994 TAG: 9403020124
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN HEUCHERT SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: DALE CITY LENGTH: Medium
Andy Gray learned his lessons well.
Gray, an assistant coach at William Fleming High School before accepting his first job as a head coach this season at Gar-Field, eliminated Patrick Henry from the Northwestern Region boys' basketball tournament Tuesday night 65-54.
Gar-Field (20-3) advanced to a regional semifinal against George Washington-Danville, with the winner earning a berth in the Group AAA state tournament.
Patrick Henry finished its season with a 15-7 record.
"It's nice to know that we beat Patrick Henry, who's got a quality player like Shannon Taylor, and an established coach [Woody Deans] and program," Gray said. "It says a lot for our kids."
Actually, it was Gray's second victory over the Patriots. Last season he filled in for Fleming coach Burrall Paye, who was serving a one-game suspension, and guided the Colonels to a victory.
Gar-Field's quickness was the difference Tuesday night. The Indians forced 22 turnovers and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds, which led to 14 second-chance points.
"They were extremely quick," Deans said. "They stripped us so many times it was unbelieveable."
Taylor led the Patriots with 17 points and six rebounds, but the other frontcourt starters combined for only 12 points and nine rebounds.
Gar-Field, on the other hand, got 22 points and 11 rebounds from 6-foot-4 junior Chris King and 12 points and nine rebounds from 6-4 junior Trokon Nagbe.
"King did a heck of a job on the boards," Deans said. "He beat us badly off the boards."
After an even first quarter, Gar-Field built its lead with a 13-4 spurt to start the second quarter and never trailed again. King had six points during the run.
The Patriots closed to four points at halftime, 33-29, but went cold in the third quarter, making only two of nine field-goal attempts. Gar-Field led 46-34 entering the fourth quarter.
Patrick Henry twice cut its deficit to eight points, the last time on Maurice Preston's 18-foot jumper with 2 minutes, 25 seconds to play.
But Greg Thomas sank a pair of free throws and King assisted on baskets by Damon Carey and Nagbe to put Gar-Field comfortably ahead again, 61-47.
Senior forward Eugene Cook and senior guard Maurice Preston had 10 points each for the Patriots.
by CNB