
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, November 13, 1994                   TAG: 9411230015
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SALEM WINS BLUE RIDGE

Both teams already were headed to the Group AA Region III tournament, so Saturday's Blue Ridge District girls' basketball tournament final was for only one thing:

Bragging rights.

Marilyn Huang and Shellie Johnson combined for 33 points and Salem (17-5) earned the district title with a 57-46 victory over William Byrd at Northside High School. It was the Spartans' third victory over the Terriers (15-7) this season.

``At the beginning of the season, we were picked to finish third in the district,'' said Johnson, a junior who had 16 points and was named the district's co-player of the year with Salem's William Byrd's Cathy Smith. ``We wanted to show that we weren't the third-best team. We're first.''

The Terriers trailed 26-20 at halftime, but were outscored 15-6 in the third quarter when Salem came out pressing. Smith, a junior forward, scored at the start of the third quarter, but the Spartans went on an 11-0 run to take a 39-22 lead.

Byrd missed 10 of 13 field-goal attempts in the quarter, two by Smith, who finished with seven points after fouling out early in the fourth quarter.

The Terriers' Kelli Runyon, who was held scoreless, Kristi Dyer and Brandi Allen all fouled out in the fourth quarter. Byrd outscored Salem 20-16 in the period with help from Dyer, who had 11 of her 13 points, but the Terriers couldn't catch up.

``It was really intense and physical in the first half,'' said Dee Wright, Salem's coach. ``We just worked hard on boxing out and getting position and it paid off for us.''

Huang, a junior guard who scored 17 and was named to the all-tournament team, said since regional berths were settled, the Spartans just wanted to play well and have fun.

``Offensively, we didn't execute very well, so we had to use defense,'' Huang said. ``I think we got them frustrated and that got them in foul trouble.''

Senior Valerie Glyn finished with a team-high 14 points for Byrd, including two 3-pointers.

Freshman center Sarah Palmer and guard Mandy Williams added seven points each for Salem.

The Spartans and Byrd open regional play Tuesday night at Magna Vista. Salem will take on Piedmont District runner-up Fieldale-Collinsville at 6:30, and the Terriers will play in the nightcap against Liberty, the runner-up in the Seminole District.

see microfilm for box score

by CNB