Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 1, 1991 TAG: 9103010097
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The victory puts Alleghany in next week's Region III tournament along with Northside, which won over William Byrd 77-70 in the other semifinal.
It was a heartbreak for Lord Botetourt, which just a few seconds learlier had lost guard Bobby Prince, who scored a game-high 25 points before fouling out.
After that, the Cavaliers' Craig Layman hit a jumper that gave Botetourt the lead. But Alleghany went to Wheatley low and he put in the game winner.
"That's been as big a win as I've had in a while," said Alleghany coach Jimmy Smith. "It's been a while since I've been to the region."
Reminded that it's been only three years, Smith said, "Yeah, but that's a long time after you've been four years in a row."
Jason Buzzard had 13 points and eight blocked shots for the Mounties. Todd Wheatley, Darren's freshman brother, led the Mountaineers (14-7) with 14 points.
Buzzard, Alleghany's 6-foot-7 senior center, dominated the game early as he blocked four shots by Lord Botetourt's 6-6 freshman, Jeff Cronise.
However, Cronise didn't let it affect his confidence. He knocked down a 3-point shot from the front and added a couple of more inside shots in the second quarter as the Cavaliers wiped out an 11-point deficit.
Earlier, Prince had been all of Botetourt's offense. The junior guard scored 14 of the Cavaliers' first 18 points before Cronise got hot.
Buzzard had two of Alleghany's first three goals as the Mountaineers grabbed an early lead.
Then 6-6 Todd Wheatley, a freshman like Cronise, took over for Alleghany as he scored eight of his points in the second quarter to help the Mounties withstand Botetourt's surge.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB