ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992                   TAG: 9203050229
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium


WOODEN LIFTS JAMES RIVER

Senior and first-year player Solan Wooden made two free throws with three seconds left in overtime to give James River a 52-51 upset victory over Grayson County in a Region C tournament boys' basketball game game Wednesday at Lord Botetourt High School.

"Can you believe that?" retiring James River coach John Shotwell said. "[Wooden] had never played an organized game until we started practice. He's a good shooter, but I have to admit I had my doubts because he had never been in this situation before."

The victory delays Shotwell's retirement for at least one game. The Knights (17-7) will play Lebanon on Friday in a Region C semifinal at Lord Botetourt.

"They won't let me quit," said Shotwell. "This is a team I've enjoyed as much as any I've had. Everybody pitches in and does what he has to do."

After trailing all night, James River sent the game to overtime when Ryan Shotwell made 1-of-2 free-throw attempts with five seconds left to tie the score at 48.

Troy Thompson hit two free throws giving James River a 50-48 lead with 1:20 left in overtime.

Bonner Satterwhite brought the Blue Devils to one by making a free throw 11 seconds later.

Matt Ward couldn't covert a one-and-one free-throw opportunity for James River, and Wilbert Campbell scored the only field goal in overtime on a follow basket to put Grayson County (19-6) up 51-50 with 19 seconds left.

Thompson, who led James River with 15 points, brought the ball down court, and, after being trapped, passed to Wooden on the right baseline. Wooden drove to the basket and was fouled by Campbell.

He converted both free throws and then intercepted Mitch Hawks' inbounds pass to seal the victory.

Shotwell scored 13 points. Hawks and Floyd led Grayson County with 15 points each.

Covington erased a huge fourth-quarter deficit and rallied to a 67-58 victory over George Wythe (16-9) in the other Region C game.

Trailing by 11, Covington (18-3) earned a Friday night date with Floyd County by outscoring George Wythe 32-12 in the fourth quarter. \

see microfilm for box score


Memo: a different version of this story ran in the New River Valley edition.

by CNB