Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 9, 1994 TAG: 9409090055
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Only one problem. The Highlanders are in the Group A Pioneer District. It just seems that after its last two games, Glenvar ought to be competing in the Group AA Blue Ridge.
Following their last-second victory over perennial Blue Ridge District power William Byrd on Tuesday, the Highlanders blasted Northside 60-29 Thursday. In two weeks, Glenvar has a 3-1 record, having beaten the Vikings twice and split with the Terriers.
``We play in the Byrd tournament to see that level of basketball,'' said Glenvar coach Dennis Layman of last week's Blue Ridge District competition. ``When you play [teams like] Byrd and Northside, their kids are bigger and they have more depth.''
Glenvar (3-1) missed some early layups Thursday but once the Highlanders found the range, the game was over rather quickly. Glenvar's press forced the Vikings into 15 turnovers in the first half before the Highlanders called off the pressure defense midway through the second period. By then, the score was 26-7.
Northside (1-2) was strong in only one phase of the game - rebounding. The Vikings owned a 13-5 edge in the opening quarter. By the end, though, the Highlanders dominated even that part of the game with a 37-31 edge.
Inside, Glenvar's Marilea Hale scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the first half. Point guard Kristy Robinson set the tempo with six assists and three steals. For the game, Glenvar had 13 thefts with Toree Morris and Hale also getting three steals.
``I think we were still high [from beating Byrd],'' said Hale. ``We kept up our intensity and didn't let down.
``We played well in the Byrd tournament. I think we were hustling more tonight. Playing a Group AA team gets you ready for the Pioneer District.''
The Vikings seemed to handle the press early, but then got caught in a Glenvar hot streak. ``The last time we played, they shot 55 percent against us,'' said Northside coach Marilyn Bussey. ``Tonight they seemed to hit everything they threw up there when they pulled away in the second quarter.
``Against their press, we were in the right positions. We just weren't making the right decisions.''
For the game, Glenvar connected on 28-of-64 shots (44 percent), but in the second quarter the Highlanders were red hot, hitting 11-of-16. In the second half, there wasn't that much intensity. Northside committed only one personal foul in the final 18 minutes.
Glenvar's Amanda Rydell was the game's top rebounder with eight. The Vikings' Amy Heath grabbed seven including three in the opening quarter when Northside dominated the boards.
by CNB