ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602140086
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
THE HIGHLANDERS hold off a James River rally to beat the Knights 71-57.
In a sense, Glenvar's basketball game against James River Tuesday night was a microcosm of its season.
The Highlanders jumped out to an early lead and then opted to watch what the opposition would do.
Glenvar defeated the Knights 71-57 in the Highlanders' gym to clinch at least a tie for the Pioneer District regular-season title. Glenvar, the 10-ranked Group A team, is 15-5 overall and 11-1 in the district.
Covington, the only district team to beat the Highlanders, is 9-1 in the district with two games remaining this week, both against Bath County. If the Cougars win them, Glenvar and Covington will meet in a playoff game at a neutral site Feb.20.
``We don't expect Covington to lose. We just have to sit back and wait and see,'' Glenvar coach Art Lawrence said.
Glenvar opened the game in a fury, making nine of 12 shots from the field in the first quarter en route to a 24-12 lead. Two minutes into the second quarter, the Highlanders held their biggest advantage of the game, 30-12.
But then things began to change.
``I don't know if we got complacent and took them for granted or what,'' Lawrence said. ``But there was a definite difference in our quality of play [after that]. We didn't move very well at either end of the floor.''
The Knights, fueled by 12 second-quarter points from junior Travis Blankenship, cut Glenvar's lead to nine (36-27) at halftime.
``Travis came off the bench and did a heck of a job,'' James River coach Randy Howard said. ``And then our kids controlled the ball and we began to play our [slower-paced] game.''
The Knights' Shahan Burrell scored four inside baskets in the third quarter, enabling his team to draw to four, 49-45. Blankenship scored the first basket of the final period to pull James River within two points (49-47), before Glenvar regained the momentum.
``Almost,'' Howard said. ``We keep playing `almost.' It seems we always come down to the end, we're behind two or three points, and we have to foul and hope the other team misses. We just can't get it done at the end.
``But our team played hard, they played their hearts out really, and that's all I can ask.''
James River is 9-9, 2-8.
``It was an ugly win,'' Lawrence said. ``We let them dictate the tempo most of the game, and we got out of our flow. But we made our free throws [14-of-16], and you'll stay close in games doing that.''
Glenvar's offense was led by James Williams, who made nine of 12 shots from the floor for a game-high 23 points. Corey Willis added 15, with all but two of them coming in the first period, and Josh Williamson scored 11.
Blankenship and Burrell paced the Knights with 18 and 16 points, respectively.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 59 linesby CNB