Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 10, 1993 TAG: 9301100127
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
KNIGHTS GIRLS ROUT PULASKI
Any hopes that the first Cave Spring-Pulaski County girls' basketball battle would resemble last year's epic struggles were put to rest by the Knights."This is the best we've played all year," Cave Spring guard Kim Stewart said after she scored 18 points to lead the Knights to a 63-37 rout in the first of three meetings between the teams favored to battle for the Roanoke Valley District crown.
"This is the first time all year we've played a whole game," Stewart said. "We played good pressure defense for four quarters. I knew we could beat them by this much if we played our game."
To expect a close battle might have been wishful thinking. Pulaski County (7-3 overall, 3-1 district) has five new starters from last year's Group AAA runner-up team, while the Knights (11-2, 4-0) have back most of last year's cast that won the Group AAA Northwestern Region championship.
Pulaski County coach Rod Reedy feared his team couldn't handle the Knights' pressure defense, and he was right.
Cave Spring's defense put away the Cougars right after halftime. The Knights went on a 12-2 run with freshman Cheryl Rhodes and Stewart each getting two baskets for a 40-21 lead.
"We changed to what we call the run-and-jump pressure. Our kids like it because it pumps them up, and I think it took Pulaski County out of the game," new Knights coach Linda Long said.
Said Reedy: "Maybe, but we were right on the edge of having big trouble with the press in the first half. We were happy to be where we were at the half [down 28-19], though because we were hanging with them. The longer you hang with a team, then the more confidence you get."
The Knights connected on 22 of 44 shots and forced 29 turnovers. Stewart had five steals, and sophomore Aimee Beightol scored 11 points with four assists. Kelly Dierker had 14 and Rhodes 11.
"We're not as deep as we were last year," said Long, who then was an assistant. "At the beginning of the year Cheryl didn't start. She's worked her way into the starting lineup."
The Cougars made only 14 of 42 shots, and Carrie McConnell, who started last year before going to the sideline with a knee injury, was the only double-figure scorer with 10 points. \
see microfilm for box score