Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9409020056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``The defense played better than the offense,'' said Byrd coach Richard Thrasher. ``Defense will be the heart of this team.''
It was that way a year ago when the Terriers reached the Region III tournament. With a slew of veterans from that team, Byrd (2-0) figures to be one of Timesland's top squads. Ditto for Glenvar, which reached the Group A state tournament and returns much of that squad.
The Highlanders couldn't match Byrd's height Thursday, but coach Dennis Layman didn't feel that was the main problem.
``It was their quickness. We had never seen people come at us like that before,'' Layman said . ``We were intimidated early when we saw their rush [press]. We were falling down. When we decided we couldn't fall down, we stuck our nose in there harder [on offense].''
One player who didn't struggle offensively was Byrd junior Cathy Smith. She contributed a game-high 20 points and made 8-of-13 shots. After picking up two early personal fouls and sitting out part of the first quarter, Smith bounced back to score three field goals in the second period as Byrd took a 26-20 lead at halftime.
``I think we were dribbling the ball too much,'' Smith said. ``We needed to pass it up the floor instead of trying to dribble it up the floor.''
The Terriers opened a 38-26 lead in the third period as Kelli Runyon and Wendy Hayden hit quick back-to-back field goals. By the end of the period, Glenvar had scored six straight points and trailed by six.
In the first part of the fourth period, the Highlanders had three chances to trim Byrd's lead to four and failed as the Terriers forced two turnovers and Glenvar missed a shot.
``We haven't learned to finish things off,'' Layman said. ``We'd start to make a good play and then didn't. But Byrd was touching the ball on defense.''
The Highlanders made only 17 of 50 shots from the floor. Marilea Hale, a senior, and her freshman sister, Erica Hale, scored 25 points for Glenvar (1-1).
Byrd made only19 of 49 shots, but the Terriers were 9-of-20 in the second half. Byrd had a 40-32 rebounding edge with Smith getting 10 and Kristi Dyer, who was in foul trouble, getting nine. The Hales combined for 15.
In the consolation game, Northside beat Rockbridge County by 43-30 in a match of Blue Ridge District rivals.
Tanya Holmes led the Vikings (1-1) with 16 points and was Northside's only double-figure pointmaker. The Wildcats (0-2) were paced by senior post player Tonia Clements with 15.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB