Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 16, 1991 TAG: 9103160172
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Although Colonial Williamsburg and the College of William and Mary provided the setting, the Lady Cougars did not study history. Instead, they took a week-long course in basketball.
"We made sure we got all of our rest," said junior center Lena Jones before Friday's semifinals. "We prepared for it [the games]. And we relaxed."
The lessons continued in the semifinals. Pulaski County edged previously unbeaten Phoebus of Hampton, 44-42.
The Cougars meet unbeaten and nationally ranked James Madison of Vienna for the state title at 1 p.m. today at William and Mary Hall.
Thus, the learning experience will continue for the Cougars. Instead of playing in 1,500- to 2,000-seat gyms, they have had get used to a 9,000-seat arena. They learned to deal with baskets on the floor instead of hanging on the ceiling. Then after games, they experienced mass news conferences.
And the Cougars had to find a way to spend all the extra time on their hands.
The team arrived Tuesday night, played Wednesday night and had Thursday off before playing again on Friday. That left plenty of time for things besides basketball and homework.
"We ate a lot," said forward Terri Garland. "And last [Thursday] night, we went bowling so we would have something to do."
A visit to Colonial Williamsburg had been planned, but cold and rainy weather Thursday cancelled that, said coach Rod Reedy.
Basketball was the main lesson, though. And when Pulaski County returns home tonight, no matter the outcome of the state finals, it will be after the best season in school history - 25-2 so far.
"I'll keep the memory of getting here," said guard Becky Smith, the team's only senior.
Pulaski County reaching the state tournament was not totally unexpected, but still marked quite an accomplishment. Old Pulaski High won the unclassified championship. But the Cougars went through a stretch where they lost 97 of 98 games in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The success also brought about 50 fans from Pulaski County to Williamsburg to cheer for the Cougars. Some of them arrived as early as Tuesday night. Others drove up for Wednesday's game, returned home and then came back Friday.
"There was never any question at all," said Beverly Grubb, mother of sophomore reserve center Mary Grubb. "I was going no matter what."
"It's the first time we've ever been here," said Larry Garland, whose daughter Terri led the Cougars in scoring. "Everyone was expecting we might win a regional game. Now we're in the state tournament."
by CNB