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

DATE: SATURDAY, February 26, 1994                   TAG: 9403030011
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN                                 LENGTH: Medium

PULASKI ATHLETE WAITING FOR BLACK CLOUD TO LIFT

Then, he was derailed. Just as he was ready to lead the talent-laden and stout-hearted Cougars of Pulaski County to lofty heights in the arena of sport, he was cut down. Suddenly, inexplicably, his season was over.

It's happened to Webb twice already this school year. First, he broke his jaw against Indian River in the Group AAA Division 6 semifinals and couldn't play the following week against Annandale for the title. Pulaski County's unbeaten season and hopes for a second straight title were ruined as Webb could only watch from the sideline. He watched the final seconds tick off the clock with tears in his eyes.

Had the Cougars been afforded the skills of their fine running back and linebacker that fateful day ... ah, too much has been said and written about that already.

Basketball season wasn't much of a balm for Webb, who could not play for the first month while his jawbone healed. He returned at midseason. In midseason form, no less.

"It hurt to watch my fellow teammates play their hearts out and not be able to be out there," said Webb, who lost more than 20 pounds during the six weeks his mouth was wired shut.

When he stepped on the floor, scorekeepers penciled 20 points in the book. He scored 35 points in his third game back. The scary thing is, he got better after that.

Webb had averaged 23.5 points over his last four games before Wednesday night's fateful encounter with Patrick Henry in the semifinals of the Roanoke Valley District tournament. The Cougars were rolling after a slow start and had won three of four games. They were playing their best ball of the season.

However, Patrick Henry's Jeff Eenigenburg hit the winning shot to bump off Pulaski County 60-58. Game over. Season over.

It was another bitter ending for Webb. Never mind the fact that he had played impeccably on the basketball court.

Webb and fellow junior Tyrone Hash had led the Cougars' turnaround by scoring in bunches. The two almost seemed to have an ongoing personal scoring duel.

In a big win over William Fleming last week, Webb and Hash both scored 20 points. In a victory over Franklin County, Hash had 23, Webb 22. A tough loss at E.C. Glass saw Webb score 25. He netted 27 in a first-round tournament win over Franklin County as Hash scored 23.

"The two of them both had super years," said Pat Burns, the Cougars' head coach. "They needed some help. You can't count on two kids to score all your points."

Coach Burns had some fine fellows to contribute, but rarely did he have all their services at the same time. Jon Lilly, Bobby Shinault and Jason Lawson all were hobbled with bad ankles at one time or another. Drew Miller and Tony Christley suffered broken noses. Another chap missed a game because he did not want to infect his teammates with pink eye.

"In 19 years of coaching, I've never had a season like this," said Burns. "I'm pleased with the kids. Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don't. This time, it didn't."

There is a silver lining to this dark cloud, however. Webb, like Hash, is a junior.

"We'll continue where we left off this year," said Webb.

Keywords:
FOOTBALL