Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 2, 1994 TAG: 9403020199
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
It's not unusual that the Buffaloes are in the Region C playoffs. Regional trips have been the rule around Floyd the last few years. The Buffaloes are making their fourth straight such journey.
It's not uncommon, either, that Floyd is on a roll heading into tonight's Region C game against Lebanon at Emory & Henry College. Just last year, the Buffaloes rode a late-season surge into the Group A state tournament.
This season, Floyd placed second in the Mountain Empire District, then bashed three straight opponents by an average of 20.6 points in winning the league tournament, which concluded with the Buffaloes applying a 66-47 thumping on regular-season champ Grayson County in the finals.
No, none of this is new for Floyd County, which has been on the short end of a basketball score just three times in 22 games this season. What will be weird is the fact that the Buffaloes and their 6-foot-5 hulk Jason Light will be looking up at its opponent.
Lebanon, to make it short, is tall. Floyd faced tall guys in the MED this year, but the Pioneers may put more big guys on the floor at once than anyone the Buffaloes have faced. Getting the ball to Light - a guy who shoots 75 percent from the floor and averages about 20 points, 10 rebounds, six blocks per outing - may be tough.
"There'll be a crowd around him," said Alan Cantrell, Floyd County's coach.
Some of the guys standing closest to Light will be 6-7 Brian Sword and 6-3 Ben Hilton, both juniors. Those two are Lebanon's best offensive players, too. Sword (19 ppg, 8.5 rpg) is the most dangerous player because he can knock down the outside shot.
"He's kind of a funny tall kid," said Lebanon coach Sam Blevins. "He can post up and play inside, but he's probably a better player facing the bucket."
Guys like Hilton (16 ppg, 8 rpg) and 6-2 sophomore Travis Brightbill can handle the scoring down low for Lebanon (16-8). Those two will probably do most of the leaning on Light.
If the Pioneers try to block out Light, it means other Buffaloes can shine. Phillip Marshall and Peter Bucklin can drill it from outside and point guard Jamie Warren creates most of his 17 points per game by shredding defenses with his penetration.
If the Buffaloes get contributions from everyone, it could mean another big post-season win. That's what they're accustomed to, anyway.
"The kids have been able to turn it up a bit," said Cantrell. "They're peaking when it's time to peak."
by CNB