Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 15, 1994 TAG: 9401170223
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Which was just what Radford High found out when it took it to favored Blacksburg in the first quarter of the New River District opener for both teams Friday night.
Once aroused, the Indians went into a second-quarter frenzy, carrying them to a 61-43 blasting of the Bobcats.
One minute, folks are buzzing about Radford's 16-10 lead at the end of the first quarter; the next they're watching the Bobcats get chainsawed.
In one of the most dominating quarters imaginable, Blacksburg (2-5) outscored the Bobcats 24-0 and outrebounded them 16-3.
Not even Blacksburg coach Bob Trear knew quite what to make of it.
"Either it was good defense, or somebody handled the ball poorly, depending on which coach you talk to," he said.
Radford's Rick Cormany, on the sidelines for his first New River District game as a coach, cast his vote for the defense.
"After the quarter break, maybe [Trear] chewed on [the Indians] a little or whatever, but they came out looking like a completely different team," he said.
The completely different team used shock troop defenders Todd Perdue and Trent Peterson to wreak havoc and big guys Tony Wheeler and Ben Araman to pound away inside.
Radford couldn't run an offense, and neither could it stop the Indians. Wheeler dumped in 17 points and collected 10 rebounds, and Araman scored 13 to go with seven rebounds.
All that made up for team-leading scorer Jay Safford, who was too ill with stomach distress to contribute more than four points and three blocked shots. Safford sat out almost the entire second half.
"Coach told us that once we got them down, don't let them up," Wheeler said.
Radford had more size than it has all year because sophomore Kelly Underwood got a callup for the game from the junior varsity and a subsequent start. The experience disparity with Araman, a senior, showed.
"I wasn't expecting that kind of game out of Araman," Cormany said. "I thought we could neutralize him."
Casey Underwood led Radford with 17 points, but the Bobcats (3-9, 0-1) were hurt by shortcomings inside and at the free throw line, where they made only 15 of 28 shots.
Radford played Blacksburg to a 27-27 deadlock in the second half.
"We could have got beat by 30," Cormany said. "I told the players afterwards that I appreciated it that they didn't tuck their tails." \
see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB