Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 3, 1993 TAG: 9311030201
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The Lord Botetourt girls' basketball team had to scrape and struggle Tuesday night, overcoming a third-quarter deficit to beat Northside 63-57. The Cavaliers clinched the Blue Ridge District regular-season title - their first since 1987 - and a Region III playoff berth.
"It feels great, I can guarantee you that much," said Botetourt coach David Wheat, who promised to shave his beard if the Cavaliers made it to the regional tournament. "But I would've liked it to be a little easier."
After trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half, Northside (8-11 overall, 4-5 in the district) took a 36-35 lead when Rosee Hopkins converted a three-point play with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Hopkins was driving toward the basket from the right side and was fouled by Botetourt's Whitney Painter while in the air. Her shot spun in, and she made the free throw to give the Vikings their first lead since the opening minute of the game.
The Cavaliers (19-1, 9-0) battled back, though, and led 41-38 at the end of the quarter. Early in the fourth period, Botetourt showed why it is Timesland's second-ranked team.
The Cavaliers went on a 7-0 run to open the quarter, starting with Summer Plunkett rifling a pass to Jenny Gates for an inside basket. Plunkett then intercepted a pass, converted a driving layup and was fouled. She sank the free throw, and 30 seconds later, Botetourt's Ashley Moore nailed a five-foot jumper to give the Cavaliers a 48-38 lead.
Title clinched. Just like that.
"We let them go on one little spurt there," said Marilyn Bussey, Northside's coach. "We knew they could do that, and it hurt us."
There was a brief scare for Botetourt midway through the second quarter, when Moore suffered an ankle injury while going for a rebound. She hobbled to the bench and sat out the rest of the half. She came back in the second half, however, and finished with 10 points and nine of Botetourt's 20 rebounds.
"I asked her how it felt at halftime," Wheat said. "She said she'd played with it worse than that."
Moore played sparingly in the second half, but other Cavaliers played big. Plunkett scored 11 points, and Moore's younger sister, Sara, poured in 10.
"We were concerned," said Gates, who scored 15 points. "When something like that happens, other people have to pick it up."
Lord Botetourt hit seven of 12 free throws in the final quarter, and survived a 3-point barrage by the Vikings. Northside was 19-for-45 from the field but hit seven 3-pointers in the game. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB