
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 5, 1994                   TAG: 9402050212
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SALEM GETS PAST BOTETOURT SPARTANS STRUGGLE IN TUNEUP FOR NORTHSIDE

People warned Salem about looking past opponents. They said the Spartans should be concentrating on the team at hand Friday night. Apparently, the Spartans weren't listening.

Salem got off to a rocky start, but eventually turned back Lord Botetourt for a 53-42 Blue Ridge District boys' basketball victory.

The Spartans (12-1 overall, 5-0 Blue Ridge District) had to push aside thoughts of "the big game" they're playing host to today at 5 p.m. against Northside. The Vikings also remained undefeated in the district by beating Rockbridge County on Friday night.

"I thought we were looking past Lord Botetourt, although the kids wouldn't admit it," said Charlie Morgan, Salem's coach. "We didn't have our minds in the game the first half. They were thinking about Northside and that can be dangerous. I cautioned the kids against it. But they hung on and did what they needed to do to win the ball game."

Mark Byington started things off with a bang for the Spartans with a steal and a dunk. The senior forward didn't score again until a 3-pointer with two minutes left in the first quarter.

Byington, who averages 26 points per game, added four points in the second quarter to bring his first-half total to nine.

"I didn't think Mark had his normal game," Morgan said. "But he had some key baskets for us in the second half."

The Cavaliers (7-5, 1-4) used multiple defenses to wear down the Spartans and force them into bad shot selection. Lord Botetourt coach Don Meredith said the strategy paid off. The Cavs were down 14-8 after one period and just 24-20 at halftime.

"We wanted to slow it down and make them play physically," Meredith said. "We ran some junk defenses that confused them some."

In the second half, the Spartans caught on. Byington made two 3-pointers in the third quarter and junior Chad Pendleton added another as Salem outscored the Cavaliers 12-8.

The Spartans went on a 16-5 run in the fourth quarter to take control. Byington, who finished with a team-high 20 points, scored six in the run. Pendleton had four and finished with 12 points.

Lord Botetourt shot 44 percent and was paced by junior guard Ryan Salvi with 10 points. Cav sharpshooter Shannon Williams was held to nine points.

"We just had a lack of intensity," Williams said. "We didn't shoot as well as we should have. To beat Salem, you have to shoot about perfect."

by CNB