Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 26, 1994 TAG: 9410270069
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The suspense in the district title race was in danger of evaporating until Lord Botetourt looked inside and discovered 5-foot-10 Sarah Hicks has some tremendous moves around the basket.
The sophomore forward scored 26 points Tuesday as the Cavaliers pounded Blue Ridge leader Salem 55-44. The Spartans would have had a regular-season title all but sewn up with a win.
Instead, Salem (12-5 overall, 6-1 district) has only a one-game lead over Lord Botetourt (12-5, 5-2) and William Byrd (5-2) with a home game next week against the Terriers.
``They went more to her [Hicks] inside than they did the first game,'' said Salem coach Dee Wright, whose team beat the Cavaliers in Daleville a couple of weeks ago.
This time, Hicks operated from the high post and hit 11 of 16 shots and grabbed 13 rebounds. But fellow sophomore guard Sara Moore was the leading rebounder, with 17, as Botetourt dominated on the boards 52-37.
``They were leaving the middle open. We tried to kick it in and then back out for our guards,'' Hicks said.
``We wanted to get it into Sarah more,'' Botetourt coach David Wheat said. ``She's such a good passer and very unselfish. We've tried to emphasize that we want her to take the ball to the basket.''
Hicks says she is shooting more now than at the beginning of the year. ``It changed when we started playing in the district games,'' she said.
Botetourt broke the game open in the second quarter when Salem freshman Sarah Palmer went to the bench with two personal fouls. With Salem leading 17-13, the Cavaliers went on a 10-0 spurt with Hicks getting the last five points for a 23-17 lead. It stayed close until Botetourt guard Summer Plunkett hit a 3-pointer just before halftime to push the Cavaliers on top 32-24.
In the second half, Salem never got closer than six. When the Spartans threatened, Hicks made a key basket. Salem sputtered against the Botetourt defense, making only 17 of 62 shots. Botetourt's margin might have been bigger were it not for the Spartans' 10 steals.
``Botetourt came here to win - and they did,'' Wright said. ``I don't think we ran much offense at all. We gave too many three-point plays and they made their free throws. We also didn't follow our shots.''
Botetourt didn't shoot that well, except for Hicks, making 22 of 58. Hicks had four assists, but Salem freshman Mandy Williams had five before fouling out.
by CNB