Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 6, 1993 TAG: 9303060307
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
LANCERS SURVIVE IN 4 OT
It was a boys' basketball game for the books.Laurel Park held off Salem in four overtimes for an 80-77 Region III semifinal victory Friday at Liberty University's Vines Center. The Lancers will face Martinsville, a 58-57 winner against Amherst County, in the title game tonight at 7:30 at Bassett High School.
If there is a sequel to the movie "Hoosiers", this game was it. Even the losing Salem coaches said, "We've got to save the tape of this game."
The Lancers' Lonzy Robertson scored all of Laurel Park's seven points in the final overtime to put the Lancers (23-1) into the Group AA state tournament for the fourth straight year.
"Coach [Frank] Scott told me he wanted me to pick my game up. I felt it because my teammates had played their butts off," Robertson said.
None of this would have mattered were it not for a 3-point shot by Chauncey Strange at the end of the second overtime to make it 69-69. With seconds remaining, Robertson missed. Strange chased down the ball, stepped back of the 3-point line and let loose.
"Coach told me we needed a three, so I knew I had to step behind the line. I just threw it. God must have been on my side. I didn't know if it was going in," Strange said.
"It seemed like when that rebound came off, everyone touched it," Salem center Josh Pugh said. "It seemed like a prayer."
In the third overtime, Salem led 73-72 when another key play occurred. Robertson went up for a jump shot and Mark Byington, who played one of his most magnificent games for Salem with 32 points, appeared to get a good block. He was called for a foul. Robertson made one of two free throws with three seconds left to force the fourth overtime.
"I shouldn't have chased the official like I did," Salem coach Charlie Morgan said. "But a game shouldn't be decided on a call."
Byington was more philosophical. "It was a stupid play. I should have let him shoot, but after that first one [by Strange] went in, you never know what will happen."
This game ended when Robertson made one of two free throws with 52 seconds left in the fourth overtime to put Laurel Park ahead 78-77. The Lancers rebounded the miss, however, and Robertson was open for a layup with 47 seconds remaining.
Byington missed a 3-point try to tie, then fouled out when he tried to get the ball from Strange. This time, though, Strange missed the free throw and Tra Wilson's 3-point attempt for Salem with a second left was short.
"Both teams had a tremendous will to win," Scott said. "Fortunately, we got a break to put the game away."
Morgan, in his first year as a head coach, said of a team that went 17-5, "I hope the people don't forget what this team did. Everyone played hard tonight."
Pugh, who had been out with pneumonia and practiced only the past two days, went all the way and scored 20 points.
The teams rang up 49 points between them in the opening quarter, then looked like a couple of tired prize fighters in the second quarter, staggering to intermission.
The second half was one of changing defenses and strategy as the teams took turns gaining momentum. "That's basketball," Pugh said. "You get in a big-game situation, every trip down the floor is crucial."
Salem led 45-38 early in the third quarter when Byington made two of his five 3-point shots. By the end of the quarter, Laurel Park was on top 50-47 and extended the lead to nine points in the fourth.
Laurel Park went to a delay game, but Salem forced turnovers and scored nine straight points. Nathan Routt's layup tied the score at 56 with 1:20 left. Both teams blew chances to win in regulation. \
see microfilm for box score