Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9412210066
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
And now the Cavaliers are without company atop the New River District in girls' basketball.
Leading scorer Bethany Hill (illness) and top rebounder Denean Jessup (back) sat out the game, but Carroll County beat a Blacksburg team with injury problems of its own 43-39 in a deliberately paced game. The Cavaliers now are 13-5 overall and 2-0 in the district.
Blacksburg (1-1, 7-10), the two-time defending Group AA champion, was hurt by ankle injuries. April Rogers, the Indians' second-leading scorer and defensive standout, hurt hers in practice. Lisa Price, the team's top scorer, twisted her right ankle just before halftime and had to be helped from the court. Heavily taped, Price returned for the second half.
In the battle of attrition, Carroll County won with bench production, defense and fourth-quarter free throws.
Jennifer Watkins provided the offense. The senior forward scored a game-high 16 points, eight in the decisive fourth quarter.
``I have to tell myself to shoot,'' Watkins said. ``If I know I can make it, I shoot. But if I don't [tell myself to shoot], I'll pass it.''
Watkins told herself to shoot often enough in the fourth quarter. Her layup with 6 minutes, 25 seconds left gave the Cavaliers their first lead of the final period, 30-29. Then, her jumper from the left wing with 5:17 remaining gave Carroll County the lead for good, 32-31.
India Easter and Marie Martin provided the defense. Easter had four steals, including a pair in the final period. The first one she turned into a three-point play that allowed the Cavaliers to extend their lead to 35-31 with 4:44 to go. The second one took the ball away from Blacksburg on an inbounds pass after it had cut the lead to 37-36.
``I just tried to move my feet,'' said Easter, a junior guard. ``I try not to go for the steal unless I can get it. I don't want to let the other team have an opening to the basket.''
Martin, a senior center, stepped up the pressure on the Indians' sophomore center, Andrea Feret. By staying in front of her and cutting off the spin to the basket, Martin held Feret to one field goal in the final period. Feret had scored eight of her team-high 12 points in the third quarter as Blacksburg opened a 28-24 advantage.
All three chipped in with free throws to keep the Indians at bay. Over the last 2:32, Watkins went 4-for-5 from the foul line, Easter 2-for-2 and Martin 2-for-2.
``Carroll County is patient,'' said Mickey McGuigan, Blacksburg's coach. ``They've gotten where they are by being patient. And that's the way they beat us.'
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB