Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 10, 1991 TAG: 9103100252
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
By that same standard, those who choose to meet Patrick Henry on its terms on the basketball floor best be prepared to be every bit as voracious as the Patriots.
Fauquier County was not up to the task Saturday night and was devoured by PH 100-77 in the championship game of the Group AAA Northwestern Region boys' tournament at Salem High.
Based on definitive evidence presented Saturday, Patrick Henry is on a feeding frenzy, and what better time for that than right now? Next stop for the Patriots is the Group AAA state tournament next week at William and Mary in Williamsburg. PH (22-4) plays at 7 p.m. Thursday against the runner-up in the Central Region, Richmond's George Wythe.
Fauquier County (21-5), which never has qualified for the tournament, will play Central champion John Marshall.
It was over quickly for the Falcons.
In one breathtaking sequence in the third quarter, PH outscored the Falcons 21-1.
"I was trying to call timeouts to control it, but nothing I did seemed to work," Falcons coach Allen Creasy said. "Patrick Henry has a very explosive team."
So explosive that six players scored in double figures, three before fouling out. PH was so ruthless that it could afford to commit an astounding - for a winner - 29 fouls. Of course, it didn't hurt that the Falcons were 22-of-41 on free throws.
"Maybe if we'd made a few more free throws when we still had a chance to keep it close . . . " Creasy said.
Only in the first half was it close. In fact, the Falcons were in front most of the first two quarters, leading by five points in the first quarter.
PH started coming around toward the end of the second quarter, when ace sixth man Timmy Basham arose from the bench to contribute nine of his 20 points in the final 3:16, fueling a 13-4 run.
PH led 40-37 at halftime.
"Coach [Woody] Deans told us at halftime that we had to crash the boards and tighten up the defense," guard Troy Manns said. "He told us that this would be the kind of game that we would like and we better take advantage of it while we could. Some of the other teams we've played lately have been a little afraid to run with us."
Clearly, there appears to be some wisdom in that caution.
After being outrebounded 21-15 in the first half, the Patriots seized control of the rebounding by a 27-16 margin the rest of the way. The result was wave upon wave of Patriots hurtling up the floor for layups and dunks.
"Our rebounding was what did it for us," Manns said.
Deans, of course, found it to be a most gratifying spectacle.
"We had a run in the third quarter where they missed some shots and everything started to go our way and nothing went their way," he said. "That's about as well as we can play."
Basham finished with five 2-pointers and two 3-pointers to go with 12 rebounds. Monty Anderson added 19 points, including a couple of stuffs. Jonas Callis had 13 points before fouling out, Troy Anderson added 12 before he was dismissed and Troy Johnson chipped in 11 before his ejection on fouls.
Carlos Marshall had four 3-pointers en route to a team-leading 21 points for the Falcons.
Deans chose his postgame remarks carefully for fear that he may tip off future opponents to the Patriots' favorite means of play.
"Ah, Coach," veteran assistant Hank Hamrick said, "I think people are going to look at that score and know what we like to do."
see microfilm for box score
by CNB