Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 22, 1993 TAG: 9302210294
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS STEUART STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
COUGARS TIE FOR TITLE IN DISTRICT
Pulaski County ran like a troubled Winston Cup race car against Franklin County on Friday night.The Cougars were running wide open toward a share of the school's first Roanoke Valley District regular-season boys' basketball championship and ended up skidding to a 70-61 victory.
Pulaski County made good on 22 of 34 pit stops at the free-throw line to stave off a frantic late-game challenge by the Eagles, fueled by aggressive defensive play and 10 3-pointers, to secure a share of first place.
"We went through the whole bench looking for five guys ready to play," said Franklin County coach Calvin Preston, who made many substitutions in the second quarter. "You give me 34 free throws and my opponents nine, and I'll bet you I win the game too."
Eric Webb, who had 17 points, paced the Cougars' free-throw shooting, hitting nine of 11, including some key ones late in the game.
The win set up a playoff game against RVD co-champion William Fleming on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Cave Spring High School to decide the regional seeds. Pulaski County stunned Fleming 70-69 Wednesday night to set up the showdown.
"We knew we had to put Fleming out of our mind and concentrate on Franklin County first," said Tyrone Hash, who scored 15 points for the Cougars. "In the second half they made a run on us, but we had to go ahead and put the game away."
Putting the game away wasn't so easy, though. The packed house at Franklin County was whipped into a deafening roar by a string of six Pulaski County turnovers.
The Eagles (9-11 overall, 3-5 RVD) cut the Cougars' 17-point halftime lead to 66-61 on Carlos Holland's fifth 3-pointer with 1:31 remaining. But hurried shots and turnovers doomed the Eagles.
"We came out loose, but as the game went on we tightened up and they loosened up," Pulaski County coach Pat Burns said. "This was the first time we've ever had a share of the district title. We were so close and wanted it so bad. Maybe that had something to do with it."
The Cougars (16-5, 8-1) shot 76 percent in the first half, and Franklin County connected on 27 percent of its shots. That propelled the Cougars to a 17-point halftime lead.
\ see microfilm for box score Note: a slightly different version ran in the Metro edition.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.