Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 8, 1991 TAG: 9103080485
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BUD BISCARDO SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: WARRENTON LENGTH: Medium
Fleming almost did it again Thursday night, but instead Fauquier rallied for a 57-54 overtime victory in a Group AAA Northwestern Region semifinal.
The Commonwealth District champion Falcons (21-4) will play Roanoke Valley District champion Patrick Henry (21-4) on Saturday night in the regional final at 7 p.m. at Salem High. Both teams already have clinched state playoff berths.
William Fleming ends its season at 16-8, with half its losses coming against the regional finalists.
The Colonels' chief nemesis Thursday was Fauquier junior center Duane Gilliam, who scored a game-high 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots as the Falcons ran their home record to 11-0.
Gilliam's final block prevented Fleming senior guard Tee Jennings from scoring a layup with 17 seconds remaining in overtime, with the score tied at 54.
Gilliam (6-3) then hit an off-balance jump shot from the right baseline with six seconds left, and - with Colonels coach Burrall Paye screaming for a timeout - Fauquier senior guard Carlos Marshall intercepted the ensuing inbounds pass.
Fleming guard Champ Hubbard quickly fouled Marshall, who hit a free throw with four seconds remaining, giving Fauquier a 57-54 lead. When Marshall missed the bonus attempt, Fleming forward David Williams grabbed the rebound and passed to teammate Carlos Rhodes, who missed a half-court heave at the buzzer.
Williams led the Colonels with 17 points and eight rebounds. Senior center Terrell Milam scored 13 points and Rhodes added 10.
Marshall, the Commonwealth Player of the Year, suffered through a 4-for-17 field-goal shooting performance, but still scored 14 points.
Marshall's 3-pointer with 1:30 left in regulation gave Fauquier a 52-51 lead. Moments later, Williams grabbed an offensive rebound and then sank the second shot of a two-shot foul, tying the score at 52 with 1:06 left.
Fauquier held the ball for one shot, but Gilliam missed with four seconds left. After a scramble, Rhodes came away with the rebound, but he didn't cross halfcourt before time ran out.
Williams and Gilliam traded baskets early in the three-minute overtime, and Fleming had possession with two minutes left. The Colonels ran more than a minute and a half off the clock before Jennings raced in for the layup attempt. But Gilliam swatted it away with two hands, and Fauquier guard Marquis Ferguson grabbed the loose ball before setting up Gilliam's game-winner.
"I just reacted to [Jennings'] shot," said Gilliam, Fauquier's leading scorer this season. "I saw him go up, and I didn't want to give him an easy basket. At the other end, I wanted to make up for my miss [at the end of regulation]."
The Colonels took a 44-43 lead into the fourth quarter and led 49-45 midway through the period, but Rhodes missed a chance to further widen the lead when he blew a fast-break layup. see microfilm for box score
by CNB