Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 22, 1994 TAG: 9411220115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In Group AA, William Byrd plays host to Grundy, while Salem travels to Marion. Both contests start at 7 p.m. The two Blue Ridge District schools hope to continue area domination in this classification. Timesland teams have won five of the past six Group AA tournaments.
In Group A, Floyd County plays host to Hurley (7 p.m.) for the second straight year as the Buffaloes hope to repeat their title run of last year. If Floyd County is successful, it will have won 56 games in a row, which would match the state record held by York (1986-89) and Chincoteague (1969-72).
William Byrd will be gunning for its first state title since 1980, though the Terriers played in the championship games in '84 and '92. In fact, Byrd's Cathy Smith and Kelli Runyon were freshman starters for the Terriers two years ago.
Grundy comes in with an 18-7 record. ``They're a very patient team with a couple of 6-footers and a 5-10 player on the front line. So they're big and they like to get the ball inside,'' said Byrd coach Richard Thrasher.
The Terriers (19-7), who are also big up front, are on a roll. Freshman Brandi Allen and junior Kristi Dyer are 6-footers, while the 5-8 Smith plays much taller. Byrd has won six of its last seven games, including a 30-28 victory in the Region III title game over Salem, which won the Blue Ridge regular-season and tournament titles.
``We have certain weaknesses to overcome and to do that we've played better as a team,'' Thrasher said. ``We're not a great shooting team outside. Certain people play certain roles. At the beginning of the year, they didn't understand that.''
Salem (19-6) is even younger than Byrd. The Spartans have no seniors and go against a once-beaten Marion team that has 24 victories and the homecourt advantage.
``They run a diamond-and-one press and a man-to-man defense, so we'll need to isolate Shellie [Johnson],'' said Salem coach Dee Wright of her leading scorer who was co-Blue Ridge District Player of the Year with Byrd's Smith.
Johnson also has help from Sarah Palmer, who plays well both inside and outside. She is the Spartans' tallest player at 5-11, but she's also the best 3-point shooter.
``I'm very pleased because I didn't believe we'd get this far this year,'' said Wright, who coached Radford to the Group AA title over William Byrd in 1984. ``We made some changes after the first 10 games and became more disciplined and more aggressive.''
The Buffaloes trampled Hurley 88-49 a year ago. They'll have to shut down point guard Samantha Lester and 5-9 Donna Justice, who each average 17.2 points a game.
Does the long winning streak add pressure for Floyd County?
``The kids don't think about it. Our kids just shrug it off. I don't bring it up,'' said Floyd coach Alan Cantrell.
This Floyd team is balanced behind Leigh-Ann Pursifull, who averages just over 13 points a game. Cantrell employs a press that has enabled the Buffaloes (25-0) to win all but one game by 14 points or more. Included in this year's victories are seven games against Group AA competition, including 27- and 22-point victories over Salem.
Cantrell will be on the bench tonight despite being ejected after two technical fouls in the Region C championship game. Under Virginia High School League rules, only players who are ejected, not coaches, must sit out the next game.
``The technicals were stupid on my part,'' said Cantrell. ``I shouldn't have said anything. I've talked with my administration and they've explained to me [how bad it is]. I'll take all the blame.''
Under Virginia High School League rules, Floyd County must report Cantrell's ejection to the organization.
by CNB