Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 10, 1992 TAG: 9201090434
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
VIA DIDN'T COME FROM NOWHERE, BUT HE'S NICE SURPRISE FOR FLOYD
It wouldn't be accurate to say that Floyd County basketball player Fred Via came out of nowhere.But he did come from afar.
Via, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, has moved from being an off-the-bench bit player last year to the team's leading scorer this year and part of a deadly backcourt duo with Travis Crawford.
Via was averaging about five points per game a year ago; now he's pumping in more than 23.
"Who was that?" Narrows coach Todd Lusk said after Via swamped the Green Wave with 30 points in a 78-61 Buffaloes victory last week. "He ate us up."
Lusk wasn't even in the district last year, but there are a lot of folks who were who might not have recognized Via.
"I think they're surprised," Via said.
"They'll look for Travis and that leaves me some open shots. All I have to do is make them."
Which he has done with regularity. Among his offensive feats this year was scoring 44 points in two victories that included the championship of the North Cross Invitational over Christmas.
Via was low-profile last year in part because he missed the December part of the schedule as he was beefing up his eligibility,
"By the time he started the season, we were already kind of set in our ways of doing things offensively and we didn't need for him to do those things [score heavily]," Buffs coach Alan Cantrell said.
"Too, we were much more of an inside-oriented team with Dale Marshall."
But Marshall was among eight departing seniors and the personality of the current team underwent a drastic transformation.
"We knew since the summer league and camp that the team would be looking for Travis and me to score," Via said.
That was the plan.
"We were ready to use those talents this year," Cantrell said.
Via gives the Buffs a potent blend of explosiveness and outside accuracy.
Already, he's made 11 treys while shooting better than 50 percent (43-for-80) from the floor.
"You have to respect him two ways," Cantrell said.
"He has lightning speed going to the basket and he can also pull up and take the jumper."
Via had an active summer, both at basketball team camp and in an eight-team league in Stuart to which Floyd County sent a team. But then he went through a long break as he played football.
"I never had much chance to work on my basketball during football season," Via said.
Via was one of the Buffs' most valuable football players, staying on the field continuosly save when Floyd County was receiving a punt. He played wide receiver, defensive back, and returned kickoffs.
"I don't like to come out," he said.
Cantrell said that he looked at Via's size (he may weigh 150 pounds, but that's pushing it) and feared for his health on the football field. Yet Via came through unscathed.
"I turned my ankle in basketball practice, though," he said.
That cost him two practice sessions, but he wrapped the ankle up tight and played in the next game.
A note of melancholy has accompanied his basketball triumphs because his father isn't here to share them with him. The elder Fred Via died Dec. 23.
"He was blind so he couldn't see me play anyway," Via said.
"But he always told me before every game, `Play hard.' Even though he isn't here, I know he's with me."
Other performances of note:
Pulaski County's Kevin Alexander had 12 points and 10 assists and Chris Foster had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to PH.
Shawsville's Kenny Dow had 34 points and 21 rebounds in a 92-73 loss to Fort Chiswell.
Auburn's Brian Sale scored 28 in a 70-55 rout of Rocky Gap.
Gateway Christian's Tim Henderson scored 30 as the Crusaders beat Mercer (W.Va.) Christian 67-55, their first victory over that team in three years.
Jon Maher scored 38 points as Blacksburg lost to Northside and beat Alleghany.