Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410140115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That's because freshman Mandy Williams hit a jumper from the lane with 6.9 seconds remaining Thursday night, giving the Spartans a 46-44 victory over William Byrd in a meeting of the district leaders.
Another Salem freshman, Sarah Palmer, led all scorers with 12 points, including a pair of key fourth-quarter baskets as the Spartans righted themselves after squandering a big lead. Salem (10-3 overall, 4-0 in the Blue Ridge) has beaten Lord Botetourt and William Byrd, its main rivals for the titled, away from home. The Terriers (9-4, 3-1) still must travel to Lord Botetourt and Salem.
The Spartans saw a 40-34 advantage evaporate when Byrd reeled off an 8-0 run, capped by Kelli Runyon's two free throws with 3 minutes, 16 seconds left. It was the first lead for Byrd in the second half.
Salem regained the lead on Palmer jumpers with 1:49 and 1:01 left. Byrd's Cathy Smith then slipped inside for a tying layup, and Salem went for a final shot.
``I looked up at the clock and saw there were only eight seconds left. I was open,'' Williams said of her only field goal in the game. ``That's the shot I take a lot of times. I didn't know it was good, but I was hoping.''
``We didn't want anyone in particular to take the shot,'' Salem coach Dee Wright said. ``We want all our kids to be confident. We tell Mandy to look for her shot more.''
After the Terriers worked the ball down the floor, Kim Kendrick missed an off-balance shot as Salem escaped with the victory.
Palmer also hit two 3-point shots. ``They're open in our fast break,'' she said. ``I had my shot tonight.
``When we played Lord Botetourt, I was more nervous. Tonight I was relaxed.''
Salem's defense was a sagging zone that dared Byrd to shoot from the outside.
``We were also trying to sandwich Smith,'' said Wright, who had Palmer behind the Byrd star and either Shellie Johnson or Marilyn Huang in front of her.
Smith was frustrated and finished with 11 points, eight off her average. To do that, the junior had to hit four field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter.
``We didn't have a good effort at running our offense,'' Byrd coach Richard Thrasher said. ``We didn't rotate the ball. When we did, we got a good shot. There were times we should have taken the outside shot.''
Thrasher also was unhappy with his team's defense. ``We had people out of position all night,'' he said.
Until the final quarter, neither team shot well. Salem was 18-for-48, but hit six of 12 in the final eight minutes. Byrd was 18-for-51 overall and 6-of-11 in the final period. Byrd had a 35-31 edge on the boards, but Johnson, the 1993-94 Timesland Sizzlin' Sophomore of the Year, led all rebounders with 11.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB