Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992 TAG: 9203050254
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The 6-foot-8 Hodge and his Lancers teammates closed out Prince's career by going inside to hold off the Cavaliers 83-73 Wednesday in the Region III boys' tournament at the Salem Civic Center. Hodge had what for him has become an average night, recording 36 points, 24 rebounds and six blocked shots.
Prince finished with 23 points, which was amazing considering he was held scoreless in the first half. He also had seven assists and 12 rebounds. That wasn't bad for the Lancers smashed Botetourt 62-33 on the boards, which was the story of the game.
Laurel Park (22-3), ranked first among the state's Group AA teams, is in the Region III championship game for the third year in a row and faces Northside on Friday at 7. The same teams played in last year's title game.
"We were just very tired and exhausted," said Botetourt coach Don Meredith, whose charges had beaten Altavista, the state's third-ranked Group AA team, 95-83 only 24 hours earlier. "This turned into a dogfight. But we had the cocker spaniels and they had the St. Bernards."
Hodge's career has at least two more games, which virtually assures him of becoming the Virginia High School League's all-time scorer. He needs only 20 points for the record.
"We forgot about that two weeks ago," Laurel Park coach Frank Scott said. "If it happens, it happens. We had to focus [on other things] to get where we are."
As for Hodge, he isn't concerned.
"It'll take care of itself. As long as we win, that [the record] comes along with it," Hodge said.
Lord Botetourt (17-8) didn't go easily despite making only 25 of 62 shots from the field. As happened against Altavista, the Cavaliers always were snipping at the Lancers' heels. They caught them at the end of the third quarter when Derek Loyd canned an NBA 3-point shot for a 56-56 tie. It was his third consecutive 3-point goal.
Then the Lancers' Lonzy Robertson made a short jumper to start the fourth quarter. Loyd fired from long range again, missed and the Cavaliers never drew even again.
"I think last night caught up. My legs got wobbly," Loyd said. "I knew the shot was off."
Said Meredith: "He put a good stroke on it, but couldn't put it in. We wanted to get the lead in the fourth quarter, then we would have put it in `salt away' and forced Hodge to come out of the paint."
Laurel Park, which made 30 of 73 shots from the floor, led 70-61 with 3:32 left, but Botetourt scored seven straight points on Prince's two buckets and Mike Bramblett's trey. Botetourt never got any closer. With the score 73-71, Laurel Park iced the game with eight straight points, including six free throws - Ronnie Jackson had four and Robertson two.
Prince scored 16 second-half points, 10 in the fourth quarter as he turned in his usual prime-time performance.
"I was getting my shots [early], but not capitalizing," Prince said. "We were also trying to pull Odell away from the basket. He sits back in the lane waiting [to block] the shot." \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB