Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 26, 1994 TAG: 9402260149
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
It could have been a truly unattractive rout had the Buffaloes made a few more free throws.
Actually, Floyd County (18-3) made a pile of them - 35. The catch was, they took 52.
"How many?" asked Floyd County coach Alan Cantrell, incredulous at the numbers.
The fourth quarter seemed to take forever, what with the constant parade to the free-throw line, but Floyd County appeared none the worse for wear. That was fortunate for the Buffs, because they have an 8 p.m. game today at Christiansburg High School for the district championship. The opponent will be regular-season champion Grayson County, which nipped Giles 56-53 in overtime in Friday's other semifinal.
Neither team will have to sweat too much; both will be in the Group A Region C tournament next week. Still, a district tournament championship is a worthy goal for any team.
Most of the worst of it for Floyd County happened in the first half, when the Buffaloes fell 12 points behind the Eagles (14-8).
"We just weren't ready to play, and I'm not really sure why that was," said Jason Light, the Floyd County center. "Maybe we were too excited."
Actually, Cantrell said his Buffaloes appeared to be too laid back.
"We looked sluggish," he said. "We didn't start out in the press, but when we went to it, that seemed to pick us up some."
The result was a 17-3 run that produced a 29-25 halftime lead.
Floyd County kept pouring it on, especially guard Jamie Warren, who had a career-high 30 points. Of that total, 17 came on 22 free-throw attempts. Light added 17 points, making seven of 10 free throws, and Phillip Marshall scored 10 points.
"It was a typical Auburn-Floyd County game - very physical," Cantrell said.
Terry Millirons did what he could to bring the Eagles back and finished with 17 points. Randy Bonds, Auburn's brawny post player, scored 12 points, but he fouled out. Another key offensive player for the Eagles, Jon Reed, was held to five points; he fouled out, too.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB