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

DATE: SATURDAY, February 29, 1992                   TAG: 9202290269
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: NATURAL BRIDGE                                LENGTH: Short

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GLENVAR FALLS SHORT IN PIONEER

Covington - barely - settled its account with Glenvar on Friday.

The Cougars led almost the entire game, much of the time by 10 points, then survived a Glenvar rally to win 65-63 in a Pioneer District boys' basketball tournament semifinal game at Natural Bridge High School.

Last year, Covington won the district's regular-season title but lost in the tournament semifinals to Glenvar. This year, Covington won the regular-season title and navigated past its 1991 stumbling point.

By winning the regular-season title, Covington (19-3) had clinched a spot in the Region C tournament next week at Lord Botetourt High School. But coach Brad Morton isn't keen on entering the regionals with a loss.

"We didn't want that to happen again," he said of losing in the district tournament. "We want to keep it on a roll.

"One of the things we talked about was we wanted to get 20 wins. A win [tonight] would do that."

Glenvar (13-9) cut a big deficit to three points to start the fourth quarter, then was down one with the ball and 23 seconds left in the game. But a backcourt turnover against a halfcourt trap defense killed its chance.

"We couldn't get to the foul line enough," Glenvar coach Art Lawrence said. "We'd make a great play, and Covington would counter with a great play."

Glenvar lost despite Scott Highberger's 29 points. He entered the game averaging 11.3.

"His confidence level was really high and he was really going to the boards strong," Lawrence said. \

see microfilm for box score

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