Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 2, 1992 TAG: 9201010039
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
MORE THAN ONE HEROIC HOOPSTER AT NORTH CROSS HOLIDAY TOURNEY
Despite his tireless efforts and impressive contributions in last weekend's North Cross Christmas Invitational, Floyd County's Travis Crawford didn't consider himself a candidate for the tournament's Most Valuable Player honors.The Buffaloes' 5-6 point guard wasn't just being modest.
"I didn't know there was going to be an MVP award," Crawford said. "It was kind of a nice surprise when I got it."
No one else was surprised, especially the players at North Cross and Auburn, the teams left in the wake of the Buffaloes' stampede to the tournament championship.
In a 72-61 first-round victory over tournament host North Cross on Friday night, Crawford threw in 26 points and nailed 13 of 15 free throws.
In the championship game - a 65-50 win over Mountain Empire District neighbor Auburn on Saturday night - Crawford came back with 18 points.
For the tournament, he played 63 of the 64 minutes (he enjoyed the final minute from the bench). He racked up eight steals, six assists and four three-pointers, while handling the ball nearly every trip up the floor, leading the Floyd fast break and applying almost constant full-court pressure defense with his teammates.
"He [Crawford] has worked a great deal on his strength," said Floyd coach Alan Cantrell, who has the Buffaloes off to a 4-1 start.
"He's spent some time in the weight room, and that has helped. He's also in a lot better shape at this point in the season than he was last year. He knew he was going to be relied on to work a lot of minutes at the point.
"Everybody we've played has keyed on him and tried to tire him, and he's handled it well. He gets whacked and banged around, but he's been very steady.
"But nothing about Travis has been a surprise to me. He's very coachable, very intelligent and a very well-mannered person. He's the type of young man you really enjoy working with."
Crawford, a three-year starter, said the team is playing well early this season, in part due to playing together in leagues and camps over the summer.
"Before the season, Coach Cantrell told us what to expect," Crawford said. "We knew we had to be in good shape, because running is our game style now. We don't have the players this year to slow it down and push it inside. We mainly run and press."
Crawford didn't shoot as well Saturday as he did Friday, and Cantrell said the hectic pace of back-to-back games may have worn down his playmaker.
But Crawford, who was thumped Saturday in the same tooth that was knocked out at team camp over the summer, said he held up fine.
"I didn't feel that tired, really," he said. "I want to stay out there on that court all the time. I might have shown it, but inside I didn't want to believe I was wearing down."
Despite the special attention opponents are paying to Crawford, he continues to cause problems with his offensive skills, Cantrell said.
"He's not a one-dimensional player," Cantrell said. "He can hit the long-range shots, but he penetrates, too. He pulls up and hits a nice, short jumper. He handles the ball well and goes to the basket hard."
"I've learned to work around my size," Crawford said. "I've worked on my outside shot because it's hard to go inside against the trees.
"When I penetrate, I don't look to shoot as much, but every once in a while, I'll throw something up."
All too often for Floyd foes, that something falls through the net.
Highlighting other heroic holiday hoopsters:
Floyd's Fred Via and John Hawley also played well at North Cross and joined Crawford on the all-tournament team.
Via's performance was special. His grandfather's funeral was the Thursday before the tournament.
Via, a shooting guard, suited up and played in both games, scoring a total of 44 points to match Crawford's output. His team-high 21 points Saturday helped power Floyd to the title.
"That was a real credit to Fred to overcome that trauma and do as well as he did," Cantrell said. "People think, `I don't know how you can go out and play after that,' but it's like therapy in a way.
"It's a way to get back into life and go on, instead of dwelling on it and grieving. He handled it well."
"He was hurt, but on the court you couldn't tell," Crawford said of his running mate. "You can't hold Fred back from basketball."
Auburn's Brian Sale had an outstanding weekend in the North Cross tournament, scoring a total of 60 points.
Sale scored 32 in the Eagles' opening win against Roanoke Catholic, then scored a game-high 28 in the championship loss to Floyd.