Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 11, 1994 TAG: 9501110078
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The pair combined for 13 points in the final period, rallying the Indians past Carroll County 47-40 in the final of the New River District girls' basketball tournament.
Both teams advance to Region IV play next week. The Cavaliers (15-9) travel to Southwest District champion Richlands on Tuesday for a first-round game. Blacksburg (12-12) has a first-round bye and will be home for a semifinal on Nov.17.
Blacksburg entered the last eight minutes trailing 28-26. Price erased the deficit when she hit a 3-pointer from the left side 20 seconds into the period. After that shot, the Indians never trailed again.
``Whenever I hit a 3-pointer, it seems to lift the team,'' said Price, who finished with a game-high 11 points. ``I think everyone was waiting for it.''
But that didn't mean Blacksburg's work was done. The Cavaliers forced ties at 29 and again at 31. But in the back of their minds, Price and Rogers knew what they wanted and what they needed to do to get it.
``I told April we wanted to take that [district tournament] trophy home,'' Price said.
``And we started getting after it,'' said Rogers, continuing the thought. ``That's what it was.''
Rogers and Price got into it. Rogers scored seven points and had two steals in the quarter. Price had six points, four rebounds, two steals and as assist.
``When we started taking the defense up, that's what helped us get the points,'' Rogers said. ``We would get in position, kick it out [defensively], move it up the floor and get some points.''
The defensive intensity held Carroll County to 4-of-12 field-goal shooting and forced four turnovers in the final period.
``We just didn't execute and do what we were supposed to do,'' said Howard Mayo, Carroll County's coach. ``We were trying to look for the good shot. And on defense, we wanted to put pressure on the ball.''
Blacksburg's lead reached seven points, but the Cavaliers closed to 43-40 with 24 seconds left. But Price rebounded her own missed free throw, then Billie Guthrie and Price, Blacksburg's only seniors, made two free throws each in the closing seconds to secure the victory.
The fourth quarter was in marked contrast to the first two minutes of the second half. The Cavaliers made five of their first seven shot, rolling off 10 consecutive points that quickly transformed a three-point deficit at intermission into a 23-16 lead. Denean Jessup and Nikki Hawks each scored four points in the surge.
But within another two minutes, Blacksburg had cut their deficit to two points when Price hit her first 3-pointer. Three-point mini-runs by each team kept the Carroll County lead at two entering the final quarter.
On the strength of her fourth-quarter performance, Rogers finished with nine points. Andrea Feret also had nine for Blacksburg.
Jessup led Carroll County with 10 and Hawks added eight.
The game was the fourth in eight days for each team. And it was the third time the two teams played each other during the same span. Blacksburg won all three meetings.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB