Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 6, 1991 TAG: 9102060392
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"The pressure's not tough," said the Vikings' Pete Taylor. "Nothing changes. Our practice schedule's the same. We prepare the same way and we take no one lightly."
So fifth-ranked Northside outlasted Byrd 87-78, despite a lot of foul problems, and remained in control of the Blue Ridge District race.
The Vikings opened a sizeable first-half lead, then spent the last 16 minutes fending off various Terriers runs.
"Obviously, we have to come to play," said Northside coach Billy Pope. "If we don't, it means someone's going to knock us off."
Byrd (7-8 overall, 0-4 in the district) remains on the bottom of the Blue Ridge with a curious record. The four losses have been by a total of 19 points, and this was the widest margin. Northside (14-1, 4-0) is on the other end and has been held under 70 points only twice this year.
Both teams shot well, with Byrd making 24-of-44 (54.5 percent) compared to the Vikings' 33-of-68 (48.5 percent). However, Northside was only 8-of-23 in the third quarter as Byrd closed a 47-31 halftime deficit 75-66.
The Vikings' problems in the second half were caused partly by fouls. Three players - Taylor, Curtis Ballard and Matt Hill - had three personals, and Ron Glass, one of the Vikings' key reserves, hadn't played in the first half after missing a practice last week to make up some school work.
Byrd might have been closer than nine points at the end of three periods, but twice the Terriers made offensive fouls when they had a chance to come cut it to eight points. Byrd finally got it to eight points twice in the final quarter, but Northside always responded with quick baskets to blunt the runs.
"I thought Northside played extremely well in the first half," said Byrd coach Paul Barnard. "I thought we outplayed them the second half, but we got down so far and missed some free throws in the first half that might have put it under 10 points."
The Terriers' point total was the second highest allowed by Northside, but Pope didn't feel his team played that bad defensively.
"Sometimes points given up can be misleading. It depends on the pace of the game," said Pope. "They did a great job getting the ball inside. As far as a shooting team, they're as good as anyone in the Roanoke Valley. They have four players shooting over 50 percent, so we're not the first team they've shot well against."
The Vikings prevailed because of their bench. Hill and Ballard fouled out. Taylor and Glass, despite playing for a half, both had four personals. However, Scott Howell came off the bench for nine points and Brian Burke scored eight as the Northside reserves outscored the William Byrd bench 25-8.
Then there was John Baker, Timesland's second-leading scorer. He had a game-high 20 points and shared rebounding honors at eight with Byrd's David Robertson. He also had a game-high six of Northside's 16 assists.
Byrd's last chance at catching up came when the Terriers pulled to 82-74 with 1:11 left. But Glass made two free throws and Chad Briscoe had one in the next 15 seconds to settle the game.
"I think we have a good basketball team. We have three of our [last] four Blue Ridge games at home so I think we'll be a force in the district," said Barnard, whose team must play the role of spoiler. WILLIAM BYRD (78)
Young 5 1-2 15, Brizendine 5 3-4 13, Robertson 4 5-7 13, Gerber 2 1-2 5, Smith 5 14-15 24, Wade 0 0-1 0, Reynolds 3 2-2 8. Totals 24 26-33 78.
NORTHSIDE (87)
Baker 8 4-6 20, Ballard 1 4-6 6, Taylor 4 3-4 11, Hill 4 0-0 8, Briscoe 5 5-6 17, Bailey 4 0-1 8, Howell 4 0-0 9, Porter 2 0-1 4, Glass 1 2-2 4. Totals 33 18-26 87.
William Byrd 15162522-78
Northside 26211822-87 Three-point goals: Young 4, Briscoe 2, Howell. Team fouls: William Byrd 18, Northside 24. Fouled out: Ballard, Hill. JV: 54-47, Northside.
by CNB