Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 28, 1994 TAG: 9402270120
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
"It would be really nice to play them again in the [Region III] final next week," said Jim Hawley, Jefferson Forest's coach. "That would be a great thing for Bedford County."
This time, it was great for the Minutemen, who held off a furious closing charge by the Cavaliers to preserve a 59-57 victory in the championship game of the Seminole District tournament at Liberty University's Vines Center.
Liberty beat Forest when it visited Bedford early in the season, and the Cavaliers prevailed on their floor this month. Forest won the regular-season title, and Liberty won the tournament. Both are 17-5. Both will go to the regional, although Forest draws a first-round bye and plays the winner of the game between Salem and the Piedmont District runner-up Thursday. Liberty draws Northside when the tournament opens Tuesday.
The Minutemen led by 15 points with 7 minutes, 27 seconds left, but Forest rallied behind Anthony Poindexter, a wonderfully athletic player who had 24 points and 16 rebounds.
But Poindexter, who never sat, fouled out with a minute left, sending Craig Coleman to the line for a pair of free throws that put Liberty up 55-51.
"I wasn't nervous," Coleman said. "I try not to put any pressure on myself. That makes it a whole lot harder."
Forest came back on a Ryan Gilleland jumper from the lane with 48 seconds left. Coleman added another free throw, but Ortiz Wade raced downcourt and slipped free inside to pull Forest to 56-55. Greg Reynolds buried a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left to give Liberty a 58-55 lead with 18 seconds to play.
Gilleland was off the mark on a 3-point shot, Coleman got the rebound, was fouled, and buried the front end of the one-and-one. Gilleland's subsequent layup was meaningless as the Minutemen began their celebration.
Gilleland who averages close to 20 points per game, was held to 13, six of those coming on a pair of 3-pointers.
"The key was Coleman's defense on Gilleland," said Mark Hanks, Liberty's coach. "To put in that kind of effort and then still have enough left to make the free throws at the end, incredible."
Coleman said Liberty focused on defense after a late-season swoon.
"We weren't playing good team defense," he said. "We weren't getting any rotation at all. That's what we keyed on in practice."
Against Forest, Liberty keyed on getting the ball inside to exploit a considerable size advantage. David Ross responded with 12 points and Brian Long, Bruce Jacobs and Stephen Shrader combined for 23.
"Their big men really played well," Hawley said.
The Minutemen also blocked six shots, but three of those rejections were by one of their smallest players, guard J.J. Coles.
Lots of handshakes were exchanged afterward and, clearly, none lacked sincerity. Hanks and Hawley already were making plans to drive to Salem together later Saturday to scout the Spartans and Northside.
"He's my guru," Hanks said of Hawley. "There's a lot of respect between these two teams and I think it starts with us [coaches]."
by CNB