Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 13, 1992 TAG: 9203120184
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY METRO
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
Instead, the Pulaski County High girls' basketball team returns to the Group AAA state tournament after finishing second a year ago.
As the No. 2 seed from the Northwestern Region, the Cougars (21-5) meet Northern Region champ West Springfield (26-2) at Lord Botetourt High in Daleville at 2:45 p.m. Saturday.
"It's just mental," said 5-foot-10 Cindy Martin, who averages 17 points and nearly eight rebounds per game and shoots more than 50 percent from the field.
"Once you get to the state tournament, everyone has a pretty good team. No one expected anything of us. Last year, not everyone even knew where Pulaski was. We didn't have any expectations."
The 1992 version is better known. It finished second to host and nationally ranked Madison High at the Warhawk Journal Winter Classic in December. It gained the invitation by finishing second to Madison in the state last year.
Still, the similarities between last season and this outnumber the differences. And the common characteristics start with defense.
"Before every game we set our keys and one of those keys is always defense," said guard Terri Garland, who helps key the Cougars with 15 points and more than four assists per game. "We work really hard on defense. We try to play with a lot of intensity and enthusiasm."
The Cougars also play with a lot of tenacity and traps. And that forces turnovers, which often key the offense.
"Our team can score 20 points and still win because of our defense," said Martin.
Another factor in Pulaski County's favor is experience. Eight players including three starters - seniors Martin, Garland and Lena Jones - are back from last year's team.
"The team expects what we're in store for, because we were there last year," said the 6-foot Jones, who pulls down eight rebounds a game. "This year is different; we expect to do well. Some people there won't be as prepared [for the surroundings]."
One of those teams new to the state tournament scene will be the Cougars' first round foe - West Springfield. The Spartans, the No. 2 team in the Washington, D.C.-metro area, will be making their first appearence after near misses the past two seasons.
Leading West Springfield will be 6-foot-1 senior wing Julie Wight. She averages 20 points per game and her speciality is the three-point shot. Cheryl Patton, a 5-10 junior, averages 14 points per game.
But the Spartans will be without perhaps their best player: 5-11 center Jen Terry. She has a torn ligament in her left knee and will miss the Pulaski County game, according to coach Bill Gibson. Terry averages 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Of course, West Springfield ended Madison's state-record 56-game winning streak without Terry, so how much her absence will affect the Spartans is unknown.
"We're pretty much known for our up-tempo style, pressing and running," said Gibson. "We'll probably do a little bit of everything [against Pulaski County]. Hopefully, we won't change a whole lot."
With or without Terry, Pulaski County is glad to be playing the team that ended Madison's streak rather than Madison.
"Physically, it's going to be a tough matchup for us," said Pulaski County coach Rod Reedy. "But psychologically, it's a boost for us to be playing someone new."
by CNB