Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 6, 1993 TAG: 9301060255
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
EAGLES HOLD OFF KNIGHTS
The boys' basketball game between Cave Spring and host Franklin County came down, as might have been expected, to 3s and freebies.The Eagles missed some free throws, the Knights made some 3-pointers, and what appeared to be your standard stress-free hoops match turned into short-term anxiety for both teams.
The Eagles gathered themselves in the last 14 seconds and held on to win 58-55 in the teams' Roanoke Valley District opener.
After Robbie Hibbs sank his second 3-pointer in 23 seconds, the Knights (3-7 overall, 0-1 RVD) had closed to 55-53 and the strain was beginning to show on Franklin County. With matters seemingly well in hand and a 55-45 lead with 1:47 to go, the Eagles then proceeded to blow the front end of three one-and-ones - two by fill-in point guard Jamie Stockton - and throw in a turnover as Cave Spring stormed back with an 8-0 run, all courtesy of Hibbs.
"We keep coming back, but we're never ahead," said Cave Spring coach Rick Crotts, reflecting not only about Tuesday's game. "I'd like to be ahead once in a while."
But it was not to be against Franklin County, either. The Eagles' Robert Cooke sank two free throws with 14 seconds left and, after Hibbs missed from 3-point range, Carlos Holland added another free throw with five seconds.
Franklin County coach Calvin Preston loosened his collar and finally gave himself a chance to smile afterward.
The Eagles (5-3, 1-0) showed they have what it takes to make things sticky for a lot of folks. Although Franklin County didn't have a particularly distinguished night shooting (21-of-51), it did outrebound the smaller Knights 43-27 and pressed tirelessly.
"One of the reasons we were able to start coming back in the second half was that we boxed out better," Crotts said.
That and they started finding sophomore Matt Matheney, who scored 11 of the team's first 16 points of the second half and had 16 of his 18 in the half. Hibbs scored 10 of his 18 in the fourth quarter.
For Franklin County, Tremayne McHeimer had 21 points and nine rebounds.
\ see microfilm for box score
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.