
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 8, 1990                   TAG: 9003082026
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FRANKLIN COUNTY HAS WORK CUT OUT IN STATE

The odds are against Franklin County in first round of the state tournament tonight unless Mark Mitchell can have a repeat performance of his effort in the regionals.

Mitchell scored 41 points in an 88-87 victory over Fauquier County.

Franklin County (17-8) takes on Wakefield (24-3) in the Group AAA Tournament at 8:45 p.m. in Williamsburg.

The Eagles have no height inside and rely on three perimeter players - Mitchell (19.3 ppg), Carlos Trotter (14.0 ppg) and Travis Fuller (13.9 ppg).

Franklin County got a break by escaping a possible first-round game against South Lakes, which has 6-8 Grant Hill in the middle.

"I'm happy we don't have to face a 6-8 or a 6-10 player right off," said Ed Holstrom, Franklin County's coach. "But Wakefield still has a 6-5 and a 6-6 player. They also have some similarity to us in their backcourt as their guards are fairly quick."

What encourages Holstrom about the first-round game is that Wakefield plays a lot of zone.

"I think we can get the 3-point shot," he said. "Obviously, as the smallest team in the tournament, we have to shoot the 3-pointer. It's hard to get that when you're against a man-to-man defense and they're bigger than you are."

Defensively, the Eagles will have to contain 6-6 forward Travis Spencer and 6-2 Rayfield Boyd, both averaging more than 20 points per game.

Four other Timesland boys' teams will be involved in first-round, state-tournament action today.

Laurel Park and Marion play at 3:45 p.m. in the first round of the Group AA Tournament. The other Group AA game involving Timesland teams sends Martinsville (24-2) against George Wythe (20-4) at 8:45 tonight in Charlottesville.

by CNB