ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 15, 1997 TAG: 9702180029
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
Grayson County hit its free throws down the stretch to clinch a 66-58 victory over Galax and wrap up the Mountain Empire District regular-season title Friday night in Independence.
The Blue Devils (16-5 overall, 10-2 district), who trailed 35-33 at the half, fought back to lead by as many as 10 in the final period. Grayson County connected on 10 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter, and made 21 of 24 for the game.
Grayson County got the help it needed in the district race when Fort Chiswell upset Bland 72-70.
Chad McMillian led the way for the Blue Devils with 23 points, Derek Phipps had 16 and Wes Self 13.
Mac Garner scored 15 points for the Maroon Tide (13-8, 9-3), which had five scorers in double figures.
In other games:
Fort Chiswell 72, Bland 70: Heath Bralley scored 33 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, as the Pioneers kept the visiting Rockets from forcing a playoff for the Mountain Empire District regular-season title.
Fort Chiswell (9-10, 5-6) led for most of the game, but had to hold off a Bland rally in the final minutes. Ritchie Nester scored seven points and dished out eight assists for the Pioneers.
Lee Meadows had 31 points for Bland (15-5, 9-3), which finished second behind Grayson County in the district standings.
Narrows 55, Pocahontas 48: Jason Mullins scored 13 fourth-quarter points to help the Green Wave hold off the Indians in a Mountain Empire District game in Pocahontas.
The Indians trailed 28-15 at the half, but battled back to tie the score with less than four minutes to play. Mullins, who led Narrows with 17 points, then nailed back-to-back 3-point baskets to give the Green Wave a comfortable cushion.
Dalton Smith added 12 points for Narrows (9-11, 5-8).
Barry Thompson scored 14 points and David Murphy 12 for the Indians (2-16, 1-10), who shot 24.6 percent (16-of-65) from the field.
Pulaski County 65, Franklin County 60: Ronald Branch, Dorian Hendricks and Justin Peek came through in the fourth quarter as the Cougars surged past the Eagles for a Roanoke Valley District victory in Rocky Mount.
Pulaski County (11-9, 3-5), which trailed 55-50 midway through the fourth period, outscored Franklin County 15-5 in the final 4:10.
The trio accounted for 22 of the Cougars' 24 fourth-quarter points. Peek scored nine of his 12 in the final eight minutes. Branch, who had a game-high 21 points, scored seven. Hendricks (20 points) scored six.
Bobby Basham led Franklin County (4-17, 0-8) with 18 points, and Phillip Claybourne added 12.
James River 80, Highland 73: The Knights proved that five players are better than two in a Pioneer District victory over the Rams in Buchanan.
Phillip Meador had 18 points to lead five James River scorers in double figures. Quincy Springs scored 16 points, Tommy Blankenship 12 and Travis Blankenship and Joey Ingram 11 each for the Knights (8-11, 4-5).
Jacob Hull and Bryan Werner combined for 53 of Highland's points. Hull poured in 27 points and Werner, who scored 12 in the fourth period, had 26 for the Rams (14-4, 5-4).
Girls
Cave Spring 61, William Fleming 47: Four seniors stepped to the forefront on Cave Spring's Senior Night as the Knights wrapped up second place in the Roanoke Valley District behind Pulaski County with a victory over the visiting Colonels.
Alyssa Redick scored 15 points, fellow senior Lisa Bryan had nine and seniors Catie Redick and Stacie Morioka each added eight for Cave Spring (17-3, 6-2). Junior Amy Causey added 12.
Tonia Brown led Fleming (11-7, 4-4) with 14 points.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines KEYWORDS: BASKETBALLby CNB