Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 13, 1994 TAG: 9405130107
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The VHSL's executive committee voted Thursday to award the tournament to Liberty and Lynchburg for next year with an option on 1996.
``It will be up for review after next year, and if all goes well, then 1996 will be subject to approval,'' said Ken Tilley, the VHSL's executive director.
The VHSL is likely to seek bids for the tournament again after 1996. ``That's speculative at this point, but probably so,'' Tilley said.
The 1995 tournament will run March 16-18, with four games each day. Included will be the semifinals and finals for Group A, AA, and AAA boys and Group AAA girls. The Group AA and A girls' tournaments are played in the fall in Salem.
The winter tournament is moving from University Hall in Charlottesville, where it has been played for many years, because the University of Virginia could not guarantee the dates the VHSL wanted, Tilley said.
Tilley said there were three primary considerations in Lynchburg's favor:
``One, the financial package they gave us was very good,'' he said. ``Two, the facilities at Liberty are excellent. And three, the community support is very good.''
Carey Harveycutter, the Salem Civic Center's manager, said it was a matter of economics.
``We gave them [VHSL officials] what we thought was a very competitive proposal,'' he said. ``They could have the state tournament in the city of Salem for $4,000. However, we are not in the business of buying tournaments.
``We would have liked to have had it, but there has to be something in it for the city of Salem.''
by CNB