Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 12, 1992 TAG: 9201120192
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
PH LOSES IN OVERTIME
Patrick Henry proved it can take anyone's best shot, but that still didn't stop Louisville Male from finally flooring the Patriots.The Bulldogs had to go into overtime before subduing PH 88-77 Saturday night before a crowd of 3,621 at the Roanoke Civic Center.
The battle between No. 1-ranked boys' basketball teams was the featured game in the fifth annual Crestar Roundball Classic.
This was Patrick Henry's chance to get into USA Today's Top 25 for the first time since 1988. That will have to wait, though, because the No. 1-ranked team in Kentucky, led by 6-foot-8 junior Jason Osborne, outscored Patrick Henry 14-3 in the overtime period.
Male led 74-72 after Shannon Taylor's layup with 18 seconds left. After a timeout, the Patriots' Curtis Staples cut off a pass and fed to Taylor.
"Curtis got me the ball and I thought there were two seconds left," said Taylor, who half flipped a running 15 footer.
The shot either was short and out of bounds or it tipped the backboard and dropped straight down.
Taylor followed his shot and got a layup at or after the buzzer, again depending on who you ask. However, the officials ruled the shot good to tie the score at 74.
"The ball went off the backboard and I just put it back up," said Taylor. "It was definitely before the buzzer."
Male coach Maurice Payne questioned the time, but he never lost his composure as he prepared his team for overtime.
"I felt like the basket was late," said Payne. "But if I had been sitting on the other bench, I probably would have said it was good. I don't know if the ball [after Taylor's first shot] hit out of bounds because I was concentrating on some other things. But all the coaches on my bench said it did."
Nevertheless, Male hit four of six shots in the overtime and six of eight free throws while PH's only basket was a 3-pointer by Staples. The Bulldogs (11-3) scored the first six points before Staples' basket.
Twice, Male seemed poised to run away from PH (11-1), ranked No. 1 in Virginia. The Bulldogs went up by nine points in the first half, then led 37-29 at halftime.
Male threw its biggest punch to start the third quarter. The Bulldogs hit their first nine shots, including a 3-pointer by Osborne, who had a game-high 26 points, 16 rebounds, four blocked shots and four assists. Adam Shadburne, who finished with 24 points, hit three 3-pointers during the spurt.
That helped Male lead 58-42 with 3:43 left, and it appeared PH might be blown out.
"I don't know if that's the best we've played because we've had some good quarters, but you want to do that with a lead at the half so the other team can't change the tempo," Payne said.
PH coach Woody Deans said: "I couldn't believe how well they were shooting. We knew they had a couple of good shooters, but they were just so hot."
But Patrick Henry wasn't dead.
The Patriots rallied with 6-foot-7 center Jonas Callis' eight points in the quarter and the defense of Troy Manns. For the period, PH finally outscored Male, 29-26, even though the Bulldogs shot 11-of-14.
"We knew they were No. 1, that it was their home court and that after a while they'd make a run," said Osborne.
The Bulldogs, with Ricardo Scott getting 15, dominated the rebounding 50-41.
"We didn't do a good job rebounding." said Deans. "But coming back like we did can do nothing but help us down the road." \
see microfilm for box score