Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 2, 1990 TAG: 9003023093
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DAVID FAWCETT SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: DALE LENGTH: Medium
Reedy said his report on Gar-Field, the Cougars' opponent Thursday night in a Group AAA Northwestern District semifinal, indicated the team could not shoot well from the perimeter.
However, Reedy discovered that the Indians had a difficult time missing from anywhere on the floor as they romped to an 89-50 win.
By winning its 17th straight game, Gar-Field (22-2) advanced to Saturday night's region final in which it will host Cave Spring, an 89-41 winner over Amherst.
Gar-Field also received an automatic berth in next week's state tournament, which begins Wednesday in Williamsburg.
Pulaski (16-5) was making its first regional appearance. Robin Dotson led the Cougars with 15 points and Terri Garland added 14.
Doing most of the damage for the Indians were Charleata Beale, Rachel Hemmer and Kathy Kruczek who combined for 79 points.
Beale, a 6-foot junior forward, led the way by hitting a career-high 36 points, 25 in the second half.
Hemmer, a 6-2 junior center, scored 18 points and grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds.
For the game, Gar-Field outrebounded Pulaski 35-19.
The biggest surprise was Kruczek's offensive performance. The junior guard, who had struggled lately from the perimeter, regained her outside shooting touch, scoring 21 points, including two 3-point baskets.
"It was certainly far and above what I expected them to play," Reedy said. "Not from the two big girls because we knew all about them, but that supporting cast made it next to impossible for us."
After closing to 7-6 on two Garland free throws early in the first quarter, the Cougars quickly fell behind. They were outscored 42-15 the rest of the first half and found themselves down 49-21 at halftime.
Beale scored 18 third-quarter points, putting Gar-Field up 59-21 when she hit a jump shot with six minutes left in the quarter.
The Indians led by 46 points with less than two minutes left when Hemmer hit Beale for a layup and a 89-43 lead.
by CNB