Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 8, 1993 TAG: 9312080189
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
There will be happier birthdays for Art Lawrence, and eventually he'll get his 100th victory as Glenvar's basketball coach.
Alleghany, though, wasn't going to let him blow out the candles and get his wish Tuesday night. The Mountaineers went on a 17-2 run in the first period and the opening minutes of the second quarter to take control on the way to a 76-65 non-district victory on the Highlanders' court.
Guard James Hughes paced Alleghany (1-1) with 25 points. Inside, 6-foot-5 Todd Wheatley, still recovering from the football season, had 18 points and 11 rebounds. But Wheatley didn't show the outside game that made him one of the Blue Ridge District's better players last season. Together, those two players hit 16 of 23 shots.
"It's hard to say how good Glenvar is; that's their first game," said Jimmy Smith, Alleghany's coach. "All I know is they're tough to beat over here. Last year we only beat them by one point."
The Mounties got a lot out of their opening loss to Group AAA Patrick Henry last week. "All I know is that Hughes was a totally different player," Smith said. "He was the difference in the game."
Hughes connected on nine of 14 field-goal attempts, grabbed seven rebounds and added three steals and two assists.
He hit two free throws that started the Mounties' run after Glenvar had taken a 9-4 lead. Alleghany's spurt produced a 21-11 lead, with Hughes contributing two baskets.
Glenvar was in foul trouble by halftime. Starters David Robinson and Jason Darnell had three each, and the other three Highlanders each had two fouls.
"We got a little impatient on offense," Lawrence said. "We took some quick shots and they were connecting on the other end."
The Highlanders, though, didn't fall without a battle. Alleghany took a 53-38 lead near the end of the third quarter, but Glenvar rallied behind Jason Anderson, who scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half.
The Highlanders twice had the ball with a chance to cut the deficit to four points. The second time, with barely four minutes left, Glenvar committed a turnover. Wheatley hit a bucket and was fouled. He missed, but Hughes rebounded and was fouled. The senior made both free throws and all of a sudden Alleghany had a 63-52 lead.
"That was critical," Lawrence said. "On Anderson, we found a mismatch on him and let him post up inside."
Alleghany connected on 28 of 56 shots from the field. Jermane Winston scored 12 points, including two 3-point shots. Glenvar was 28-of-61 and lost the rebounding battle 39-36.
Brad Melton, the Highlanders' leading scorer a season ago, had 14 points. But he did come up with 11 rebounds. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB