Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 7, 1992 TAG: 9203070263
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PHYLLIS A. FAIR SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Lebanon pounded James River on the inside - outrebounding the Knights 35-22 - and went on to win 68-47 in the semifinals of the Group A Region C boys' basketball tournament Friday night at Lord Botetourt High.
The Pioneers (20-4) play the Covington Cougars in the championship tonight at 7:30 at Lord Botetourt.
"The key was rebounding," said James River coach John Shotwell. "We had a big disadvantage. Sometimes they would get two and three shots, and there was no way we could stop them.
"They were so much stronger inside. They got to pounding the boards, and we couldn't stay with them."
Lebanon coach Sam Blevins said, "We knew if we rebounded everything else would take care of itself."
And it did. Lebanon outscored James River 35-21 in the second half.
James River and Shotwell ended their season with a 17-7 record. It was Shotwell's final game as head basketball coach for the Knights. He is retiring after 31 years, having compiled a 421-210 record.
Although he will be giving up his job as basketball coach, Shotwell will continue to coach the softball and golf teams at James River.
"This is my last year, and I'm proud of what the kids did this year," Shotwell said.
The Knights did well in the first half. They led twice, 15-10 with 3:00 left in the first quarter and 25-23 with 4:51 to go until halftime.
But then the Pioneers went on a 10-1 spurt to lead 33-26 at halftime.
The Knights tried to gnaw into Lebanon's lead, but the closest they got was 41-35 with 4:44 left in the third.
Brian Summers, Eric Meadows and Ben Campbell led Lebanon in scoring with 16 points each. Troy Thompson topped James River with 12 points.
Covington and Lebanon both qualified for next week's Group A tournament. Lebanon is the defending Group A champion, but the Pioneers face a Covington team that matches up well with them in size.
"Covington is good physical ball team," Blevins said. "It's going to be a good game." \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB