Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 3, 1994 TAG: 9403030149
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
In last year's Region IV semi-finals, the Blue Devils singed the Indians from outside in applying a 74-59 whipping. Firing away from outside, Gate City owned a 19-point lead in the first half before shell-shocked Blacksburg could do anything to recover.
The fact that the Blue Devils shot so well from outside surprised no less a basketball authority than Blacksburg coach Bob Trear, an esteemed tactician who still has trouble figuring out what happened that fateful night last March.
You see, Gate City was supposed to pound the ball inside. Get it close to the hoop. Place its faith, as well as the ball, in the hands of big men.
It didn't happen that way.
"We didn't know they were as good a shooters as they were," said Trear. "Two days later, I saw them at Virginia High [in the regional finals] and they didn't shoot as well."
Blacksburg hopes that the Blue Devils will not find the same touch when the Indians host Gate City in a rematch tonight in the Region IV semi-finals. The Blue Devils come into town riding a 21-game winning streak.
Like last year, a berth in the Group AA state tournament is at stake. Tonight's winner will play for the regional title against the victor of the Lee-Graham semi-final.
Blacksburg (11-7), which won its fourth straight New River District regular-season and tournament championships last week, has won 11 of its last 13 games after starting the season 0-5.
The Indians have been led by the big-man trio of Tony Wheeler, Jay Safford and Ben Araman, a unit that averages about 40 points of inside offense per game. The Indians have seen defenses ranging from typical 2-3 zones to kooky stuff like 3-2 and match-up 1-2-2 zones, all designed to stop the inside game.
While most of the defensive ploys have slowed the Indians and dragged them into low-scoring games, Blacksburg has persevered through all styles of play. Gate City (21-2) will probably pack it in tonight.
"We expect them to run a zone, really," said Trear. "We've seen a lot of [zones] the last two weeks."
Blacksburg is no slouch in the defense department. The Indians' man-to-man pressure has been relentless and the defensive play of sixth man Todd Perdue has been a boon to Blacksburg during its late-season surge.
Gate City, the Highlands District champ which rousted Richlands 71-50 in a first-round regional game Tuesday, also can go inside. The Blue Devils, who boast as much floor balance as any team in the region, have excellent big men in 6-foot-5 Jason Shoemaker, 6-5 Jackie Mullins and 6-5 Brian Boy. Gate City only gets bigger when it goes to the bench, where 6-6 Jason Haynes resides.
Shannon Carter leads Gate City in scoring with an average in the neighborhood of17 points per game.
"We're big inside, but we've got adequate outside shooting," said Sandy Blackwell, Gate City's coach.
Blackwell knows it will be difficult to surprise the Indians this year. Teams with 21-2 records usually don't sneak up on people.
"We were shooting the ball pretty well at that point last year [when the Blue Devils beat the Indians]," said Blackwell. "We think it will be tough to play up there. Blacksburg won't beat themselves."
by CNB