Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 4, 1993 TAG: 9303040175
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS STEUART STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HALIFAX LENGTH: Medium
PULASKI EDGES HALIFAX AT THE BUZZER
Pulaski County boys' basketball coach Pat Burns bounced around the Halifax County visitors' locker room and shot make-believe, off-balance, one-handed, one-legged, leaning, stop-and-pop jump shots after the opening-round game of the Group AAA Northwestern Region Tournament on Wednesday night.No, he's not a raving lunatic.
"Eric Webb can shoot 'em like this . . . and that . . . and this," Burns said. "That's a God-given talent. He can shoot that shot."
He can make it, too.
With five seconds remaining in the game and the score tied at 53, Webb dribbled the ball coast-to-coast, cut through two Halifax County defenders just past half-court and sank an off-balance, one-handed 8-foot jumper at the buzzer to give Pulaski County a 55-53 victory.
The win sends the Cougars to play Woodbridge, a 58-46 winner over James Woods.
"I gave the ball to Ty [Tyrone Hash] and asked for it back. Then I dribbled through the two defenders to hoping to draw the foul," Webb said. "They hacked me, but I got through and shot the ball. Then I closed my eyes and prayed."
Said Cougars senior center Chris Foster, "It was breathtaking. I was praying with him."
Blue Comets coach Don Thompson had a different take on the shot.
"It really wasn't a great shot," he said. "When you take a one-hander off one leg, on the run, that's a tough shot to make. But it went."
The shot capped a career- and game-high 27-point effort for Webb.
"He can play," Burns said. "That's all you need to say about him."
Webb did more than just score for the Cougars (18-6). He forced turnovers, dove for loose balls and unglued the Comets' defense from Foster to allow him to score 18 points.
"It was a rugged game," Foster said. "I feel lucky to come out of it with 18. I had to earn every one of them."
The Comets' defense doubled up on Foster for most of the game, and it was he who made Webb's theatrical game-winner possible.
"I was afraid they were going long to [Chris Foster], so we didn't cover the guy inbounding the ball," Thompson said. "I knew when they came out with Webb inbounding that we were in a bit of trouble, but we were out of timeouts."
Senior Rodney Chandler's 21 points led Halifax County (15-7). \
see microfilm for box score