Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 13, 1994 TAG: 9402130193
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Vikings dumped Blue Ridge District basketball opponent William Byrd 97-73 at Northside's gym.
Backcourt mates Nathan Hungate and sophomore Justin Porterfield led the Vikings (17-2 overall, 7-1 district) with 34 and 19 points, respectively.
It was Northside's third victory this season against the Terriers (9-7, 3-4) and by far the most lopsided.
"I thought we came out really strong tonight," Hungate said. "I've been off the last couple of games, and it felt good to hit a couple."
Hungate, who equaled his career high in points, hit five of eight 3-point shots. He also accumulated a batch of assists, repeatedly finding the open man.
"Nathan not only scores, he creates for other people," Vikings coach Billy Pope said.
The Terriers were in the game for most of the first half, leading 12-10 midway through the first quarter and tying the score at 25 halfway through the second.
Byrd sophomore Chris Childress, who finished with a team-high 28 points, had 14 in the game's first 12 minutes. But Northside's Chad Brammer, who scored 25 Tuesday night, hit two 3-pointers and a layup in the final 1:40 of the half to give his team a 45-34 lead.
Hungate, who scored 13 in the third quarter, and Maurice Garrison, who scored six, took over after halftime, and the Vikings led 70-45.
"It was nice that a lot of guys contributed," Pope said. "Chad hit a couple of big 3s, Maurice scored well inside in the third quarter, and Dana Gibson [the Vikings' 6-6 center who did not miss a shot] had a strong game. And it goes without saying that Nathan and Justin are very important to us out front."
Brammer and Garrison finished with 10 points each, and Gibson added eight. The trio missed two of its combined 15 field-goal attempts.
"Northside shot the ball awfully well," Byrd coach Paul Barnard said. "Hungate and Porterfield hitting those [3-pointers] took us out of the game. A couple of Hungate's were from downtown. We lost our composure."
Northside shot 36-of-60 (60 percent), including 9-of-16 (56 percent) on 3-point attempts.
The Vikings had an opportunity to score 100 points, but Sam Barrett's 3-point attempt with five seconds remaining missed.
"This is my eighth year as a head coach, and I think we've scored 100 points twice," Pope said. "That's a lot of points for a high school basketball game."
Barnard wasn't happy with Byrd's defense, but he was pleased with the play of Childress, who made 11 of his first 13 shots.
"We've got to step it up defensively," Barnard said, "but I thought Chris Childress was outstanding. My hat's off to him. He played hard the whole game."
Byrd, which forced Northside to overtime before losing earlier this year, is battling Alleghany for third place in the district.
by CNB