ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996 TAG: 9610250076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: FLOYD
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
With all the fires raging in California, Floyd County had quite a spark of its own ignite Thursday. In front of a packed house, Julie Sowers caught fire, draining five first-half three pointers in a span of six minutes, two seconds to lead the Buffaloes to a 83-58 Three Rivers District win over the Shawsville Shawnees.
Shawsville jumped on Floyd County early, breaking down the Buffaloes triangle-and-two defense for a 14-6 lead with 2:38 to play in the first quarter. That was extent of the Shawnees' success.
Floyd County (17-2, 7-1) scored six straight to pull within two with just over one minute left in the opening quarter. After allowing an easy basket by Shawsville's Megan Forster, Sowers heaved the first of her five 3-pointers from near midcourt as the buzzer sounded.
``In the first quarter we had so much success it went to our heads and we got sloppy,'' Shawnees coach Tracy Poff said. ``And against Floyd County if you make a mistake, it's hard to get it back. They way they shoot you can't afford to give them anything.''
And Shawsville (13-5, 5-3) did more than give Floyd County a break. They handed the game over on a silver platter. The Shawnees committed 17 first-half turnovers. Combined with the shooting touch of Sowers, it was simply too much to overcome.
``I twisted my ankle in practice Monday and had to miss the game with Giles [on] Tuesday so I just wanted to get back into playing,'' Sowers said. ``Plus, I've been cold for a while, so I needed this.''
Sowers, celebrating her 16th birthday, finished with 32 points and six three pointers.
The Buffaloes switched to a man-to-man defense in the second quarter that continued to frustrate the Shawnees all night. Leading 48-31 at the half, Floyd County put Shawsville away in the third quarter with relentless defensive pressure and sharp shooting.
``Our saying is `Finish It', and we hadn't been doing that,'' Sowers said. ``We wanted to turn it up and live up to the name Black Swarm.''
``The only thing I told them is to do a better job picking up the intensity,'' Cantrell said. ``We were playing cautious on defense which leaves us very laid back on the offensive end too. I just wanted them to play harder, and they did.''
Floyd County outscored Shawsville 17-5 in the third quarter for a 67-34 lead. The Buffaloes extended that lead to 72-36, their largest of the night, on a three pointer from Jill Quesenberry with 6:39 remaining.
Forster put up four consecutive layups with 2:37 on the clock to pull the Shawnees within 20, but it was too little too late. Forster led Shawsville with 24 points and 10 boards.
``She's big-time hurt,'' Poff said of Forster. ``She suffered a calf muscle pull against Radford [on] Tuesday and didn't practice yesterday. That was a gutsy effort for her to play at all.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines KEYWORDS: BASKETBALLLby CNB