Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 7, 1991 TAG: 9103070234
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: BASSETT LENGTH: Medium
The Vikings went to a zone, controlled the rebounding and held off a late Bulldogs surge to win the first-round Region III boys' tournament game.
Northside (22-1), ranked second in Group AA, is one victory away from a state-tournament berth. The Vikings have lost two last-second decisions in the past two years in the Region III semifinals, and they must beat the state's fourth-ranked team, Nelson County, on Friday to make the state.
"I don't know how long it's been since we've played this much zone defense; maybe 10 games ago," Northside coach Billy Pope said. "But Martinsville penetrates so well that we didn't want our big guys to have to help out if they got by our guards."
The Vikings controlled the rebounding 38-33, with John Baker getting nine and Pete Taylor eight. Northside also made 23 of 46 field-goal attempts (50 percent).
Northside used a 6-0 run, all scored by Chuckie Bailey, at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth to open a 45-35 lead.
Bailey made a 10-footer at the end of the third, then drove through Martinsville's defense for two layups to open the fourth.
"Coach Pope said no one will guard me unless I look at the basket, so when they passed to me, I did," Bailey said.
"They ran a spread and a wheel out front, then took it down the middle," Martinsville coach Husky Hall said. "It looked like we were playing with our back to the ball instead of facing up to the man."
Baker, who led Northside with 20 points, nailed a 3-point goal with 5:45 left to make it 50-39 and added a couple more field goals as the Vikings stormed on top 57-44.
"Coach said I needed to step up the second half," said Baker, who was 3-of-9 in the first half. "I couldn't get anything to fall then, but then I hit a couple of free throws and settled down."
With a big lead, Northside went to the four-corners offense with 3:39 left. Martinsville charged back, leaving lots of room for second-guessing.
It might have worked out for the Bulldogs (19-5), but the Martinsville's Seandell Meadows missed a layup with 38 seconds left that would have cut Northside's lead to two points.
Instead, Chad Briscoe sank a free throw with 37 seconds left for a 58-53 lead. Michael Frasier missed jump shots before and after a missed bonus free-throw chance by Briscoe, then Curtis Ballard finished off the Bulldogs with two free throws with nine seconds left.
"When they spread it, we had to start taking chances," Hall said. "We ran two men at the ball to get turnovers. If we hit that layup, it's a game."
see microfilm for box score
by CNB