Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 3, 1991 TAG: 9102030153
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Kagey had just made the game-winning basket with seven seconds left in the Yellow Jackets' 78-75 victory Saturday afternoon.
"When I was still at Virginia Tech, we came to see Kagey about three times," Moir said. "He was a skinny kid, but you could see that he really knew how to play the game. We came close to offering him a scholarship.
"I'm not sure he would have taken it. He might still have gone to Randolph-Macon because his father went there. But now I wish we had made him the offer. Then I wouldn't have to worry about him now."
Kagey, a 6-foot-4 senior who played for Cave Spring High, has helped lead the Jackets to a No. 7 ranking in the NCAA Division III poll. Saturday afternoon, he scored 15 of his 25 points in the second half, making 10 of 14 shots for the game.
He also conspired with fellow senior Pat Holland to provide a steadying influence in the face of an inspired effort by the Maroons.
"In the second half, we tried to go to Pat or I would try to penetrate," Kagey said. "We wanted to go to the guys with the experience."
Kagey's experience showed with the play that led to the game winner.
"He's a great player," Randolph-Macon coach Hal Nunnally said. "We've won 15 straight basketball games this year and whenever we've needed him, he's been there."
After Roanoke's Ricky Becker had forced the second half's eighth tie at 75-75 with a slash through the lane with 47 seconds left, the Jackets set up a play for Kagey.
"I wanted to take the shot," Kagey said. "The play is called Four-Baseline and I'm supposed to take the ball out top and go one-on-one. It's my choice to go to either side. I can dish it off to somebody if I'm double-teamed or take it myself. I felt like I could get the shot off."
Which of course he did, a soft floater from the left of the key that nestled gently in the nets.
Roanoke (9-10 overall, 3-8 Old Dominion Athletic Conference) did have those seven seconds to execute a play, but that didn't work out. The outlet came to Hillary Scott, who attempted to squeeze past the press on the left sideline. But after several bumps and shoves, he ended up on his tail out of bounds and the Jackets (17-1, 11-0) had the ball.
Holland, a 6-foot-9 post player, sank the first shot of a one-and-one with one second left for his 23rd point and that was it.
"As great as Kagey played, the fact that Pat Holland was back in form was the difference in the game," Nunnally said.
Holland tore up a knee in December, didn't play again until Jan. 9, and spent the rest of last month recuperating. He played 30 minutes against Roanoke for his longest outing since the injury.
"It's great to be back in there for so long and not sitting on the bench," said Holland, who started his collegiate career at Maryland. "It wasn't a grueling comeback physically as much as it was mentally. The knee feels fine. I'm just trying to get back in shape."
Roanoke fell behind by 12 in the first half, but didn't buckle. The Maroons shot 54.5 percent in the second half and outrebounded the Jackets 36-25 for the game.
Becker finished with 18, 10 of that in the first half. Senior guard Ronnie Pendleton, who has been troubled by inconsistency, was terrific for Roanoke, drilling three 3-pointers, dishing out four assists, collaring 10 rebounds and scoring 21. With 5:32 remaining in the game, he hit scored on a layup for his 1,000-point career point.
"Hopefully, that was his coming-out party," Moir said.
It might have been Roanoke's.
"Nobody this year has shredded our half-court defense the way Roanoke did," Nunnally said. "They have tremendous heart. It had to have been tough for them to be upset Thursday night [91-80 by Eastern Mennonite] then come back today and play as though they and not us were the No. 1 team in the conference. Great character."
RAN-MACON FGFTRAFPT Taylor 5-103-321017Gregory 0-30-00320Prescott 1-20-00222Kagey 10-145-523225Anderson 0-10-01000Skop 2-71-27235Smith 3-60-03026Holland 9-135-760223Totals 30-5614-1725111378 ROANOKE FGFTRAFPTGentry 2-50-03424Jones 1-30-20012Scott 1-20-03222Lineburg 2-60-02124Thornton 2-41-12225Becker 7-164-551218Pendleton 9-150-0104221Otten 3-71-17127Cross 3-50-01016Murphy 2-22-21016Totals 32-658-1136151775Rebounds include team rebounds Score by periods: Randolph-Macon32-45-78 Roanoke31-44-75
Three-point goals - Randolph-Macon, Taylor 4-9, Gregory 0-2. Totals: 4-11. Roanoke, Pendleton 3-5, Gentry 0-1, Jones 0-1, Lineburg 0-1, Thornton 0-1, Becker 0-1. Totals 3-10.
Turnovers - Randolph-Macon, 8 (three with two). Roanoke, 11 (Becker 3).
Blocked shots - Randolph-Macon 1 (Holland). Roanoke, 2 (Becker, Cross).
Steals - Randolph-Macon 6 (Taylor and Kagey 2). Roanoke 6 (Gentry, Thornton 2). Officials - NA. Attendance - 794.
by CNB