Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 2, 1990 TAG: 9003023139
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN WEBSTER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Before going to the state tournament, though, the Knights have a bit of unfinished business to take care of Saturday night. They will travel to Dale City to take in Gar-Field in the Group AAA Northwestern Region final.
Cave Spring upset the Indians last year, and Gar-Field, which beat Pulaski County 89-50 in the other Northwestern semifinal Thursday, has been pointing toward a rematch with the Knights all season. Both teams will go to the Group AAA tournament next week in Williamsburg.
With senior guards Kay Caldwell and Courtney Williams leading the way, Cave Spring (22-2) wasted little time putting away visiting Amherst (13-8).
"In all my 25 years of coaching, I have never had a team that ever came out as ready to play as these kids did tonight," said Cave Spring coach Dave Layman.
He should have underscored the word "ready." Halfway through the first quarter the Knights were pitching a shutout and leading by 19 points. Amherst did not get on the board until 2:07 remained in the quarter when Terri Snead converted a pair of free throws. The Lancers did not hit a field goal until Anissa Crawley banked in an 8-footer at the buzzer.
After making only one of its first five shots from the floor, Cave Spring hit 10 straight and led 25-5 after one quarter.
The Knights' hot shooting carried over into second quarter. They made five more in a row before missing a shot and were up 40-9 with with 5:14 left before intermission. With reserves in the game, Cave Spring missed its final 10 shots of the half and had a 46-19 advantage.
Caldwell and Williams led all scorers with 25 and 20 points, respectively, although both spent a lot of time on the bench.
"I think we have the best guard combination on the East Coast," said Layman. "With those two in the lineup we have won 47 of our last 48 games, not counting the two wins we had to forfeit [for using an ineligible player this season]."
Besides outscoring Amherst's team, Williams and Caldwell were instrumental in forcing the Lancers into 31 turnovers. Williams finished with nine steals and seven assists; Caldwell had six steals and seven assists.
Gar-Field (22-2) dispatched Pulaski County with relative ease in the other regional semifinal. Doing most of the damage for the Indians were Charleata Beale, Rachel Hemmer and Kathy Kruczek, who combined for 79 points.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB