Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 17, 1993 TAG: 9302170185
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
NORTHSIDE COMPLICATES BLUE RIDGE RACE
Just when Alleghany had the chance to simplify matters in the Blue Ridge District, Northside interfered and left things as complex as ever.Northside's 70-65 victory Tuesday night forged a two-way tie for second place with the possibility that after tonight, the knot will have a third member: William Byrd.
That's enough to send league officials scrambling for their tie-breaker procedures with the regular season's end looming Friday and the tournament starting next week.
"We have to beat Byrd Friday," Mountaineers coach Jimmy Smith said. "If we don't, we're going to end up fourth."
Northside (16-4 overall, 6-3 in the district) canned 10 of 13 free throws in the final 1:34 to hold off the Mountaineers (16-3, 6-3). Point guard Nathan Hungate, who went 8-for-10 from the stripe for the game, made five of six in a 33-second span down the stretch.
"We faced some adversity down the stretch and we came through it," Vikings coach Billy Pope said. "All of us are happy about that. . . . We didn't execute as well as we'd like to in the last game, so that makes this extra nice."
The fourth quarter was marked by four lead changes. Northside was staring at a 59-56 deficit after Todd Wheatley converted a three-point play with 3:28 left and Shawn Burks added a free throw eight seconds later after a Vikings turnover.
But Northside recovered to rattle off an 8-0 run with four different players scoring. Alleghany was never closer than three points the rest of the way.
"I think we played real well and we really worked the ball and played as a team," said Northside center Walt Derey, who scored 12 points and hauled in 13 rebounds. "Everybody played hard, especially on the defensive end."
Derey had to play harder than most since he was matched up with Alleghany's Wheatley, one of the few players around the league who can match him in bulk and skill. Wheatley ended with 25 points and 14 rebounds, but was held scoreless for the last 3:20.
Kelly Dampeer scored 15 points for Northside, but all he wanted to talk about was the future.
"I feel pleased the team is coming together," he said. "We just have to gear up for the rest of the season and forget about the past."
Alleghany had three other players score in double figures with Michael Hunter having 16 and James Hughes and Burks 10 each.
Another key figure for Northside was Jimmy Porter, who scored nine of his 17 points at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth as the Vikings erased a 46-43 Mountaineers lead and went up 52-46.
"He's the quiet one," Pope said. "He just gets the job done every night, at both ends of the floor. I'm not really sure how he does it."
Staff writer Diane Simpson contributed information for this story.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL