Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 22, 1993 TAG: 9312220171
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRIAN DEVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But the Knights couldn't deliver the finishing blows.
Northside escaped with a 68-66 win, courtesy of two free throws by guard Justin Porterfield with seven seconds remaining.
Both teams showed early-season rust, combining for 57 turnovers. Northside had 30 of those, but the Knights had the last - and most costly - ones.
Leading 66-63 with 1 minute, 15 seconds remaining, Cave Spring had the ball and was taking time off the clock. Then, Porterfield stole the ball from Knights guard Jeff Lang, and was fouled by Lang after converting on the layup.
Group AAA Cave Spring (2-4) coughed up the ball again with 35 seconds remaining. The Knights' Dusty Beekman fouled Porterfield while reaching in for a steal, and Porterfield calmly sank both free throws. Then James Irvin, who finished with 20 points, saw his 3-point attempt roll off the rim at the buzzer.
Porterfield saved the day for Northside. He led the Group AA Vikings (4-0) with 19 points and was 10 of 10 from the free-throw line.
"I was on a roll," Porterfield said. "I was real confident in my shot."
Said Vikings head coach Billy Pope: "That was a tremendous display."
But the Vikings weren't on a roll this night - at least not until the end of the game. They trailed throughout, were outrebounded 27-20 and at one point trailed by 12 points.
Certainly, this was not the same Cave Spring team they had beaten 86-65 in both teams' season opener.
"Give a lot of credit to Cave Spring," Pope said. "They came out hot. We've been passing the ball real well, but we weren't sharp tonight. We handled it well down the stretch, though."
Cave Spring took control with nine first-quarter points from forward Matt Matheny. He finished with 25 points and seven rebounds, and has averaged 27 points in his past three games.
The second quarter began even better for the Knights, as they scored the first five points of the quarter to open a 28-16 lead. Northside turned the ball over five times in the quarter's first 45 seconds.
Northside settled down, however, and the Knights didn't score another basket for five minutes. Northside closed to three points at halftime. The Viking shot 21 of 37 from the field for the game.
Lord Botetourt 66\ James River 39
DALEVILLE - The Cavaliers (4-1) shook off the Knights (0-3) in the second half to win the Botetourt county grudge match for the second time in a week. Ryan Salvi and Gabe Sander had 17 points apiece to lead the Cavaliers, who took control by winning the third quarter 17-6. Shannon Williams added 10 points.
James River got 13 points from Keith Bryant.
GW-Danville 73\ William Fleming 65
DANVILLE - The Eagles took control in the third quarter and went on to a non-district victory over the Colonels (5-2).
by CNB