Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 23, 1994 TAG: 9402240027
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Mountaineers scored the first 11 points and also got the first four points in the second quarter in the opening round of the Blue Ridge District basketball tournament against Lord Botetourt on Tuesday at the Salem Civic Center.
Yet the Cavaliers got their only tie with 1 minute, 26 seconds left in the half on Shannon Williams' layup to make it 33-33. Less than a minute later, Dusty Rowland hit two free throws for the Mounties to give them the lead for good on their way to an 81-70 victory. That puts Alleghany (12-8) in Friday's semifinal against Salem, the state's No. 1-ranked Group AA team.
The bright spot in all of this was Botetourt center Jeff Cronise. He hit 9 of 11 shots for a career-high 20 points and had eight rebounds.
This may have been the final game for veteran coach Don Meredith, who retired as a teacher last year.
"We've struggled, but I can take losing. I'm not used to it and don't like it. I love coaching. Sometimes you have more fun working with kids who aren't as talented as a [former Botetourt standout] Bobby Prince," said Meredith, whose team finished 9-10.
Meredith will make a decision in a few weeks, but he runs a family farm and is president of Botetourt Country Club, so his life isn't lacking for activity.
Alleghany got off to its fast start behind guard Todd Crawford and Winston, who each hit four points in the opening run. After a Cavalier timeout, Botetourt scored the next six points and methodically worked its way back to the tie.
"Lord Botetourt hadn't settled in and we hadn't gone against their half-court defense," said veteran Alleghany coach Jimmy Smith. "The other two games when we played them, they got up. This time, when they tied the game, we got four points to go back up."
by CNB