BROOKVILLE HOLDS OFF STAUNTON RIVER

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 7, 1992                   TAG: 9201070078
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: MONETA                                LENGTH: Medium
BROOKVILLE HOLDS OFF STAUNTON RIVER
For the longest time, Staunton River's boys' basketball team had a chance to take over second place in the Seminole District.
The Golden Eagles trailed most of the game against Brookville on Monday night, and each time they rallied. Time finally expired on Staunton River when Eric Flood's long heave for a 3-point goal with two seconds left went off the rafters and left Brookville with a 54-51 victory.
Before that, Staunton River had rallied from a nine-point deficit to get a tie early in the fourth quarter and later cut a seven-point Brookville lead to one.
"I thought they played the best defense we've seen all year long," said Staunton River coach Eddie Carter, whose team connected on only 17 of 47 field-goal attempts.
The Golden Eagles (5-3) stayed in the game with their free-throw shooting, making 15 of 18, and with their man-to-man defense.
"Give Staunton River credit. Out of seven games we've played, that's probably the best man-to-man defense we've seen," said Brookville coach Mike Dufrene. "They were so aggressive off the ball and on the ball."
The Bees (5-2) are tied for second with Nelson County, which plays at Staunton River tonight, in the Seminole District just ahead of the Golden Eagles.
Staunton River saw a 6-6 tie snapped in the first period as Brookville scored seven straight points. The Bees led 40-31 when Carter called a timeout with 1:26 left in the third quarter.
Whatever the Eagles' coach told his charges, it worked. Staunton River scored nine consecutive points with Flood, who finished with 19 points, dropping in two free throws to tie the score with 6:42 left.
The Bees, not to be outdone, scored on their next four possessions for a 47-40 lead. But Staunton River rallied again with six points as Flood hit four free throws in the run.
It was 54-49 with 30 seconds left, but Brookville missed three times in bonus free-throw situations. However, the only bucket for Staunton River was a layup by Flood, while Troy Smith missed a 3-point attempt to tie with four seconds left.
Brookville was led by Ayo Lawson with 21 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots.
"He's averaged double-double [rebounds and scoring] for us all year long," said Dufrene.
Staunton River's defense produced nine steals with Brandon Harris getting three. It kept the Bees down to an 18-of-43 night from the floor.
The shorter Eagles even stayed with Brookville in rebounding. The teams split 66 rebounds, with Staunton River's Mike Moon getting 10.
Carter said, "I thought we played our best defense all year long, but we're so short. We start 6-foot, 5-11, 5-10, 5-10 and 5-4. Those are legitimate heights.
"Every night we play uphill against teams that are bigger and stronger then we are." BROOKVILLE (54)
Lawson 7 7-9 21, Rhodes 0 0-0 0, Coffee 2 0-4 4, Payne 4 0-4 9, Canada 3 4-5 10, Blankenship 0 2-2 2, Freeman 0 2-2 2, Scott 2 2-2 6. Totals 18 17-28 54. STAUNTON RIVER (51)
Smith 2 0-0 4, Williams 2 3-4 7, Moon 3 3-4 9, Flood 6 6-6 19, Harris 3 0-0 7, Foxx 1 3-4 5. Totals 17 15-18 51. Brookville 15131214-54 Staunton River 8141316-51 Three-point goals: Payne, Flood, Harris. Team fouls: Brookville 16, Staunton River 25. Fouled out: Canada, Harris, Williams. JV: 63-59, Staunton River.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB