Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 2, 1990 TAG: 9003023118
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
Franklin County outlasted Fauquier County 88-87 as the Eagles claimed their first berth in the Group AAA boys' basketball state tournament.
This one didn't end until the last tenth of a second ticked away after Carlos Trotter stole the ball as Fauquier's Carlos Marshall was scampering down the floor for a possible winning shot.
Before going to the states, the Eagles will play Potomac in the region championship game here Saturday at 7 p.m. Both teams will face opponents from the Northern Region next week in the first round of the state tournament.
These two teams were on the go for 32 minutes as they each attempted 63 shots and combined to hit 63 of them. The game didn't turn toward the Eagles until Trotter made two field goals and set up another with a perfect pass in the final two minutes as he took over down the stretch for Franklin County (17-7).
The Eagles wouldn't have been in the game if it hadn't been for their other guard, Mark Mitchell. He had a career-high 41 points, including an incredible stretch at the end of the third quarter and early in the final period when he scored 16 consecutive points for the Eagles in his best imitation of Loyola Marymount scoring machine Bo Kimble.
"Mark got mad at me the second year I was here because I replaced the break-away rims with [permanent fixtures]," said Franklin County coach Ed Holstrom. "He said he couldn't shoot anymore. But I guess he doesn't believe that anymore."
Mitchell, who has been in a shooting slump, broke loose against Mike Thornton of Fauquier (21-5). Thornton signaled for Mitchell to come at him. Mitchell stopped behind the 3-point line and sent the ball swishing through to give the Eagles a 70-66 lead.
"I just felt like I could hit. I had this feeling," said Mitchell, who was 15-of-24 from the field - including 3-of-6 from 3-point range - and added five assists.
Forty-five seconds after his 16-point binge, Mitchell went down with a cramp. He returned to action after a minute, but hit only two free throws the rest of the way.
"I was running down the court and my leg tightened up. It was stiff when I came back and I didn't try to force anything," said Mitchell, who hit his last 13 free throws and field-goal attempts combined.
"I heard Mitchell could turn it on," said Allen Crasey, Fauquier's coach. "I believe it now. We did everything. Man-to-man, zones and trying to deny him the ball. He still did the job."
Trotter's two jumpers from the side gave Franklin County brief two-point leads in the final minute after the Eagles had blown a 79-72 advantage. Fauquier sophomore Dwayne Gilliam, who had 12 points in the final quarter, hit a short jumper with 48 seconds remaining to tie the score at 82 after the first one.
The Falcons failed to tie after Trotter's second bucket. But Trotter, who was 0-for-6 in the first half before hitting seven of 11 in the final two quarters, was stripped at midcourt by Marshall. The Falcons guard went in for a layup and was fouled by Travis Fuller. His free throw with 28 seconds left made it 87-86.
Trotter wasn't finished. He fed Tim Gill for a layup seven seconds later. The Falcons' Dwight Robinson missed a jumper and Rod Helms came out of a tussle with Mitchell with the ball for the Eagles.
"I couldn't see who had the ball, so I just swiped it away from him," said Helms, who drew a foul. He missed his free throw, but Trotter prevented any last-second disappointment with his steal.
"We were supposed to cut off the sideline offensively. Travis helped me," said Trotter. "I stuck my hand out, the ball hit my hand and I picked it up. As I went down to the other end of the floor, I knew we had a trip to the state."
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB