Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 18, 1992 TAG: 9201180317
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
PATRIOTS SURVIVE KNIGHTS
Cave Spring may serve as inspiration for an entire district. Perhaps the Knights will be the basketball beacon for the whole state.With not a lot of quickness, not much of an inside game, and nary an intimidating bone in its collective body, Cave Spring proved that mighty Patrick Henry can't make a living on reputation alone.
The Patriots, the state's No. 2-ranked Group AAA team, had to keep their composure down the stretch to hold off the tenacious Knights for a 68-63 RoanokeValley District victory Friday night at Cave Spring.
"We knew this was going to be a tough game," PH point guard Troy Manns said. "We also knew that we had to come together when the time came."
Perhaps the Patriots were expecting a tough game. Cave Spring coach Rick Crotts, on the other hand, wasn't so sure how tough his guys were going to be on their imposing guests. A pleasant surprise was in store for him.
"They weren't intimidated," he said of his players. "I was scared about that beforehand. But they were not intimidated one bit the whole ballgame."
The score was tied 59-all with 5:43 left and PH was up only two after Kerry Whitt sank two free throws for Cave Spring with 1:54 left.
But the Patriots pulled together to drill five of seven free throws in the last 1:11 and hold Cave Spring to only two points in its last six possessions.
"It was a great effort by the whole team and that was the key," Crotts said. "We didn't like the score at all, but to play close with the No. 2 team in the state is pretty daggone good."
PH got double-figure scoring from four players, but center Jonas Callis was a pivotal figure with 22 points - 16 in the first half - and nine rebounds to stake the Patriots to a 32-24 advantage on the backboards. PH exploited a substantial size advantage to collect 14 offensive rebounds.
Callis was less effective in the second half, but that was because he came down with digestive distress after his initial flurry. However, he did drive for a hoop to put his team up 63-59 with 2:37 left after the Patriots went through a 2:18 span holding the ball to pull Cave Spring out of a zone defense.
"That was a big bucket for us at a crucial time of the ballgame," PH coach Woody Deans said.
Curtis Staples scored 13 points, Shannon Taylor had 12 and Timmy Basham 11 and six rebounds. PH hurt itself by missing 10 of 21 free throws for the game.
Despite 18 turnovers, Cave Spring handled the PH press well, frequently beating the defense down the floor for layups. The Knights, who shot 50 percent (25 of 50), also lived up to their reputation as a good perimeter team.
Whitt made nine of 11 free throws on the way to 15 points, Baker Doughty negotiated his way inside for 12, and Chris Webster had two of the team's three 3-pointers and finished with 10 points.
"They just played an overall good game," Basham said.
Deans said he expects more of the same from every team on the PH schedule.
"When you're No. 1, everybody's going to be up for you," he said. "We'll run into this every ballgame." \
see microfilm for box score