Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 8, 1993 TAG: 9311080010
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Indians are seeking their fourth state title since 1975, a feat performed only by New River District rival Radford in Group AA during that span.
Blacksburg (20-1) has won 47 of its past 48 games. The only loss in that period was 54-52 to Lord Botetourt in this year's opener, when the Cavaliers kept the Indians from hitting a last-second shot.
"I feel pretty good about this team going into the tournament," said Mickey McGuigan, Blacksburg's coach. "We've been playing well lately. I think during the first part of the season we'd haveone or two people focused, playing a good game. Now we have four or five people getting it done."
McGuigan said point guard Mary Thorn's decision to commit to East Carolina University has helped.
"She's more settled," the coach said. "She was getting uptight about it [her college choice] two weeks ago. She had several schools looking at her, but then one or two got a commitment from someone else so that her choices were down to three or four."
Most district tournaments begin this week. However, Blacksburg and the other four teams in the Timesland High Five - Bassett, Lord Botetourt, Floyd County and Staunton River - already are assured spots in the regional tournaments that will follow district play. All but Floyd County, a Group A team, will be trying to dethrone the Indians in Group AA.
Of the five, Staunton River appears to have the easiest path to the state tournament. The Golden Eagles, who won the Seminole District to give the school its first team sports district championship since the mid 1970s, need to win only one game at home because they have a bye to the Region III semifinals in Moneta.
On the other hand, either Lord Botetourt or Bassett won't make the state tournament. That's because they are in the same bracket of the Region III tournament, opposite Staunton River, and likely will meet in a semifinal if the Bengals win a first-round game.
Floyd County must win two games in Region C because the Mountain Empire District is the host. However, the Buffaloes will be overwhelming favorites to do so with everyone back from a team that lost only to state champion Wilson Memorial in a 1992 Group A semifinal.
Glenvar, the Pioneer District champion, gets a break. The Highlanders need to win only one Region C game to advance to state play, and they are in the bracket opposite Floyd County and Hogoheegee District champion Rural Retreat.
The High Five teams, along with Rural Retreat and Glenvar, already have regional spots. The district tournaments will determine which Timesland teams join them.
William Byrd is a slight favorite in the Blue Ridge, only because the Terriers are the hosts for the district tournament. In the Seminole District, Liberty will have to beat second-place Nelson County for a second time this year to advance.
Bassett probably will be joined by Martinsville from the Piedmont District.
In the New River, Radford should join Blacksburg in the Region IV tournament if the Bobcats can keep high-scoring Rebecca McNeil under control when they play Christiansburg in a district semifinal.
In Group A, the battle for the second Mountain Empire District berth should be interesting. Shawsville finished second during the regular season, but the district is very balanced behind Floyd County.
In the Pioneer District, James River figures to join Glenvar in Region C play. The Knights were the only Group A team to beat Glenvar during the year, but they lost a chance to tie for the regular-season crown when they were upset by Parry McCluer.
In the Hogoheegee, George Wythe could join Rural Retreat in Region C play. Since the return of Stacy Green from an injury, the Maroons have been much improved. First, however, they must win a game at Northwood to reach the semifinals at Rural Retreat.
by CNB