Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 24, 1991 TAG: 9102250046
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Jeff Taylor sank seven 3-pointers and had a game-high 24 points as Randolph-Macon defended its ODAC title and handed Emory & Henry another heart-breaking loss in the final with a 73-67 victory Saturday night the Salem Civic Center.
"Bridesmaid again, I guess," Johnson said with a sigh. His team lost the title by a point last year and in 1988 to Bridgewater.
Taylor, who had 20 points in the first half, carried the load for Randolph-Macon (25-2) for much of the game.
"Jeff Taylor was key," said Randolph-Macon coach Hal Nunnally. "[David] Kagey and [Pat] Holland weren't having a good game, and he had to carry us in the first half."
But when things got serious in the second half, the two Yellow Jacket standbys - Kagey, the former Cave Spring star, and Holland, the All-America center - came to the front.
After Emory & Henry took a 47-46 lead with about 12 minutes left, Holland and Kagey combined for 18 of Randolph-Macon's next 20 points as the Yellow Jackets took a 65-57 lead with 3:26 left.
Trailing by eight with time running out, Emory & Henry (24-4) put on a furious charge.
Ross Kirtley was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer and made all three free throws to cut the gap to five.
Holland, who scored 16 points, followed with a layup for Randolph-Macon, but he then fouled Craig McLaughlin during a layup. McLaughlin converted the three-point play for the Wasps.
Seconds later, Holland fouled out and put McLaughlin on the free-throw line in a bonus situation. He made one shot to cut the lead to 67-64.
A turnover gave Emory & Henry the ball, and Kagey fouled Leon Hill. Hill, who finished with 14 points, also only made one free throw.
Then came the moment when it looked like the Wasps' luck finally had changed.
Trapped to the left of his basket, Kagey tried to pass the ball. It hit the side of the backboard and went out of bounds to Emory & Henry with 37 seconds left.
But luck wasn't with the Wasps.
Former Northside star Derek Elmore, who scored 16 points, sliced into the lane to try a layup. His shot spun around the rim before falling out.
Dan Prescott rebounded for the Yellow Jackets and was immediately fouled. He made both free throws to put Randolph-Macon up 69-65.
Prescott and Jeff Skop sealed the victory by making two free throws each in the final 15 seconds.
Kagey, selected the tournament's most valuable player, scored 20 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists.
EMRY & HNRY FGFTRAFPT Allen 0-10-02220Perkins 3-50-01138Elmore 6-151-212216Moore 1-20-01032Witcher 2-30-02014Hill 6-132-464314Warner 0-10-01050McLaughlin 3-54-571010Kirtley 4-143-321213Graham 0-00-02000Totals 25-5910-1430112167 RAND-MACON FGFTRAFPTTaylor 8-131-252024Adamik 0-02-21002Gregory 0-11-21251Prescott 0-04-44014Kagey 7-136-7107220Kyle 0-00-00000Skop 1-43-35305Smith 1-41-23103Holland 4-96-740514Totals 21-4424-2934151373Rebounds include team rebounds Score by periods: Emory & Henry28-39-67 Randolph-Macon35-38-73
Three-point goals - Emory & Henry: Perkins 2-3, Elmore 3-7, Kirtley 2-9, Total 7-19. Randolph-Macon: Taylor 7-11, Total 7-11.
Turnovers - Emory & Henry 15 (Elmore 6); Randolph-Macon 20 (Kagey 7). Blocked shots - Emory & Henry 1 (Hill 1); Randolph-Macon 1 (Smith 1). Steals - Emory & Henry 13 (Elmore 4); Randolph-Macon 9 (Taylor 4).
Technical fouls - None. Officials - Stone, Cage, Gibbs. Attendance - 2,807.
by CNB