Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410140114
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
April Rogers and Lisa Price, the only two returning starters from last year's Group AA championship squad, did not disappoint.
Rogers and Price scored 22 points apiece to lead the Indians to a 58-42 victory over Christiansburg in the New River District.
The tone for the game was set when Rogers and Price forced turnovers on the Blue Demons' first four trips down the court.
Rogers started the flurry with a steal and drove length of the court for a layup to give the Indians a 2-0 lead. Christiansburg's next possession produced a similar result. This time Rogers was fouled as she hit the shot. She converted the free throw to make it 5-0.
Price was not to be outdone, twice stealing the ball and racing the length of the court for layups to give the Indians a 9-0 lead with 4 minutes, 31 seconds to go in the first quarter. The pattern continued the rest of the quarter as Rogers and Price combined to score all 18 of Blacksburg's points and helped force eight turnovers.
``They just played tremendous defense putting pressure on the ball,'' said Danny Knott, Christiansburg's coach. ``We turned the ball over, did not get back on defense and put ourselves in a big hole.''
After surviving the Indians' early onslaught, Christiansburg (5-7 overall, 0-2 in the district) was able to scratch its way back into the game and close to 34-29 midway through the third quarter. Once again, Rogers and Price raised their level of play to score Blacksburg's next 18 points, many as a result of Rogers steals that led to layups. The outburst gave the Indians (7-8) a 52-36 lead with 2:50 remaining in the fourth quarter and sealed the outcome.
``April and I have been together for a long time and we work well together,'' Price said. ``It was a big district win, and it was Christiansburg, so it will give the boost in confidence we need.''
``She's a fighter and she decided it was time to crank it up,'' Mickey McGuigan, Blacksburg's coach, said of Rogers. ``It means a whole lot to win this game. It gets us going in the right direction.''
Maureen Jackson lead the Demons with 17 points. Crystal Moles was the only Christiansburg player to score in double figures, finishing with 11.
\ see microfilm for box score
Memo: should be archrival Christiansburg