Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 12, 1991 TAG: 9102120225
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Good cheer returned in a major way Monday night as the Highlanders flattened Big South Conference opponent Winthrop 76-50 to wipe out sour memories of being plastered twice recently.
Not only did it ease the pain of back-to-back humiliations at the hands of Virginia and Big South kingpin Coastal Carolina, it sent senior Ron Shelburne out on a good note.
Shelburne, a four-year starter from Snowville, led all scorers with 17 points.
"I've got a routine now that I prepare for games with and I stuck to that today," the 6-foot-7 center said. "As far as my emotions were concerned, I don't think I was too high."
Nor were his teammates, although they also were obviously under some pressure.
"We wanted to play well for Ronnie because he's been around a long time," Radford guard Doug Day said.
As is often the case when Radford has played well, the offense was focused on the man in the middle. The Highlanders (17-6 overall, 9-2 conference) sought out Shelburne frequently in the first half, and he responded by making five of his first seven shots.
When he wasn't nailing field goals, he was being fouled. He made all five of his free throws and had 15 of his game-high 17 points by the halftime break, when Radford led 38-24.
It was a point of emphasis to play well in the first half, unlike in the previous two games, an 84-66 pasting by Coastal Carolina and 87-54 hammering by Virginia. Radford did that by shooting 58.3 percent (14-of-24), only the second time it has made as many as half its shots in the first half.
"We wanted to get it to Ronnie early and often," Radford coach Oliver Purnell said.
For Winthrop (7-16, 4-7), this was painfully familiar stuff. So far this year, it has caught Virginia, South Carolina State, Xavier and Seton Hall after those teams returned home from tough losses. Winthrop was thrashed unmercifully on each occasion.
George Henson came in averaging 13.3 points. However, he was stalked incessantly by Radford's ace defender Stephen Barber, among others, and finished with 11 points. Henson had but three points in the second half. Winthrop, leading the league by shooting 48.2 percent, shot 32.7 percent (18-of-55), 26.7 percent in the second half.
The Highlanders got 16 points from Day, 12 from Barber and 11 from Tyrone Travis, who also blocked three shots.
WINTHROP MPFGFTRAFPT Hailey 202-61-15045Henson 324-102-220211Gay 142-73-57047Coulter 232-52-42136Wilkins 180-21-23111Holliman 231-50-12222Pickard 182-32-23046McVay 152-20-00104Watson 182-50-02104Johnson 110-60-02100Stroman 41-11-21003Rawlins 40-31-22011Totals 20018-5513-213672150 RADFORD MPFGFTRAFPT Travis 245-101-362111Burgess 142-30-02424Shelburne 326-115-520217Day 286-101-243116Hawkins 250-02-24532Barber 253-56-651312Reece 50-00-00020Joy 172-30-01105Gallaher 120-22-32012Ortiz 61-30-23022Horton 51-10-00113Blow 41-30-01002Noussis 30-10-01010Totals 20027-5217-2337171976 Rebounds include team rebounds Score by periods: Winthrop 24-26-50 Radford 38-38-76
Three-point goals - Winthrop: Henson 1-2, Watson 0-1, Johnson 0-1, Totals 1-4. Radford: Day 3-5, Barber 0-1, Joy 1-2, Horton 1-1, Totals 5-9.
Turnovers - Winthrop 19 (Wilkins 5); Radford 15 (Barber 4). Blocked shots - Winthrop 4 (Four with 1); Radford 7 (Travis 3). Steals - Winthrop 4 (Holliman 2); Radford 5 (Barber 2).
Officials - Edsell, Hess, Steed. Attendance - 1,100.
by CNB