Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 15, 1993 TAG: 9312150207
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Spartans opened their boys' basketball season Tuesday night by blasting Blacksburg 72-50 in a non-district game on the Spartans' court.
A quicker Salem team than last year's Blue Ridge District champion hit seven three-point plays and did a lot more fast breaking.
"I was pleased with our defense," said Salem coach Charlie Morgan, whose Spartans forced many of the 32 turnovers committed by Blacksburg.
"The kids had some bad habits last year. They had played that way for a long time and you don't break those habits in one year," added Morgan, who is beginning his second season as the Salem coach. "We're not big inside and we can't muscle with anyone. So we did a good job playing team defense. We had people rotating, helping each other out. Last year people would be glued to sticking to their man."
Offensively, 1993 All-Timesland player Mark Byington put in 22 points, dished out five assists and had three of Salem's 16 steals. He also had seven rebounds. Byington hit three of 11 3-point attempts and was 9-of-20 overall.
"Mark didn't have good control of the ball. To shoot well, you have to have good control until you let it fly. I'll let Mark do that because he's a smart player and he always has the green light," Morgan said.
The Spartans scored seven of the first nine points and never trailed.
Blacksburg (0-2) was playing its second road game in two nights and again was without its top returning scorer, Tony Wheeler, who has a shoulder injury.
"He's got the go-ahead to practice tomorrow," Indians coach Bob Trear said. "We're coming. I'm not disappointed with the players. We have to work on turnovers and overall defense. We've only had four days [practice since football] with this group, and we haven't gone over everything."
Salem hit only 28 of 71 shots but led the rebounding 44-33. Nathan Routt added 14 points inside, and Kevin Garst had all 10 of his points in the opening half, including two 3-point goals in the opening quarter. Matt Woolwine, a transfer from Glenvar, grabbed 12 rebounds.
The Indians shot reasonably well (21-of-45). Neither team made 50 percent of its free throws, which is typical of December games.
Morgan saw one thing he really likes about his club.
"They played as a team," he said. "Take Chad Pendleton. He chipped a bone in his ankle Saturday, but he was determined to play. The thing is he had an open shot at one end, but he gave it up to someone else. I liked that."
For Trear, the road trips are long in December, and there is another one to Alleghany on Friday.
But he sees an advantage.
"By playing some of these tough teams on the road now means we'll be at home later on [when the Indians have had a chance to practice together]," he said.
BLACKSBURG (50)
Perdue 3 0-0 7, Safford 7 2-6 16, Araman 2 1-2 5, Shockley 1 0-0 2, Dowdy 1 0-0 2, Marshall 1 0-0 3, Sarver 1 0-1 2, Petersen 2 1-1 5, Patrick 1 0-0 2, Tynan 1 0-0 2, Reemsnyder 1 2-3 4. Totals 21 6-13 50.
SALEM (72) Garst 3 2-3 10, Byington 9 1-2 22, Routt 6 2-4 14, Monroe 2 1-4
5, Woolwine 2 2-4 6, Edwards 0 1-2 1, Pendleton 2 0-1 5, Jeffreys 2 0-0 5, Reeves 2 0-0 4. Totals 28 9-20 72.
Blacksburg 13 12 8 17-50
Salem 17 21 18 16-72
Three-point goals: Perdue, Marshall, Byington 3, Garst 2, Pendleton, Jeffreys. Team fouls: Blacksburg 19, Salem 16. JV: 45-32, Blacksburg.
by CNB