Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 4, 1992 TAG: 9203040224
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
After the game, they were patting the Cavaliers on the back for a defensive job that long will be remembered in Region III basketball tournament history. Lord Botetourt put the clamps on the Colonels and won going away, 95-83.
The Cavaliers (17-7) get another test tonight when they challenge No. 1-ranked Laurel Park in a semifinal game at 8, with the winner earning a trip to next week's Group AA tournament.
In the first-round opener Tuesday at the Salem Civic Center, Brookville's patience helped the Bees knock off Martinsville 49-48 in double overtime. Brookville (20-4) tackles Northside (18-5) at 6:30 for the other Region III spot in the state tournament.
Botetourt's strategy was similar to Muhammad Ali's old rope-a-dope style against George Foreman. Ali simply let Foreman punch himself out, and that is exactly what happened to the Colonels.
Altavista (20-2) tried for an early knockout, building a 55-43 lead on 23-of-39 shooting in the first half. The Colonels even made their first two shots after intermission for a 16-point lead.
"We wanted to play with authority because we felt the civic center atmosphere would be to our advantage," said Botetourt coach Don Meredith, who had his team playing Altavista's up-tempo game. "We wanted to run right at them because we felt their legs would be tired. I said we'd win by 10 if we did that."
That strategy worked, because the Colonels' defense didn't match their offense, and Botetourt guard Bobby Prince took advantage. Prince had seven assists, led the Cavaliers with 12 rebounds and scored 27 points to pace the upset.
"Prince is the best player we've played against," Altavista coach Stu Richardson said. "He does so many things you don't see. We thought with Prince that Botetourt was quicker."
Prince was the reason the Altavista press didn't work. Botetourt made only 16 turnovers in the run-and-gun pressure battle.
"They've got a good press," Prince said, "but if they were going to press us, we'd stick it right down their throat. I was supposed to take two, three dribbles and pass it right down the court."
Botetourt made 35 of 63 shots from the floor and outrebounded the Colonels 43-38, with Craig Layman getting 10. Layman and Derek Loyd each scored 22 points for Botetourt and 6-foot-5 sophomore Jeff Cronise stepped up to hit five of six shots for 10 points.
Once the Cavaliers started their second-half comeback, it was easy to see Altavista fade. First, the defense grew more porous under the constant pounding. Then the Colonels' shot selection, thanks to a change in Botetourt's defense, broke down. Finally, Altavista lost three starters to fouls.
"You couldn't print it," said Richardson when asked to describe his team's shot selection in the second half.
NOTE: See microfilm for statistics.
by CNB