Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 3, 1994 TAG: 9412220066
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Win, lose or forfeit today in the state Group A girls' basketball championship, it isn't likely that this is the last we've seen of Floyd County.
The Buffaloes beat Fluvanna 56-42 Friday in the semifinals at the Salem Civic Center and there was nothing particularly surprising about that seeing as how it was their 55th-straight victory.
But it may give future opponents pause when it occurs to them that at some of the most crucial stages of the game, Floyd County was playing with four underclassmen.
Even worse than that for these opposing schedule makers, two of them were freshmen and a third was a sophomore.
Sophomore Sara Conner and freshmen Jill Quesenberry and Julie Sowers combined for 15 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and three assists as the Buffaloes warded off the stubborn Flying Flucos.
Conner started the game and played substantial minutes despite a stubbornly sore ankle and knee. The knee went when the Buffs were dusting Castlewood 82-44 in the Region C final and the ankle caved in when they trampled Hurley 76-52 in the quarterfinals last week. A guard, she had bumped and scrapped her way to 11 rebounds before being hurt early in the third quarter.
Gimpy joints and all, she had four rebounds, three points and three steals against Fluvanna.
As for the two ninth graders, they did just fine, too.
Quesenberry had eight points and five rebounds, all of the caroms coming in the fourth quarter when the Buffs could use them because they were in the process of scoring two field goals.
Sowers filled in for senior Carrie Chaffin. The 6-foot center, one of the team leaders, had fouled out and sat in anguish on the bench for the last 4 minutes, 26 seconds of the game. Sowers didn't show up much in the statistics - she scored four points and had two thefts - but she was always in the right place on defense.
``Both Jill and Julie have been improving all year long and getting more confident in what they do,'' Floyd County coach Alan Cantrell said. ``I've been calling them rookies, but when you get this far, they aren't any more.''
In outward appearance, they certainly look like freshmen. Sowers is shy and polite and you have to listen hard to make sure you catch what she's saying. Quesenberry's smile is all braces and rosy cheeks.
Sowers just turned 14 in October. Quesenberry, also just 14, said she was more jittery at this time last year when Floyd County was en route to its first title.
Wait a minute, she wasn't on the team last year ...
``But my sister Cherie, who graduated last year, was,'' she said. ``I was scared to death.''
Sowers also has an older sister, but J.J., a junior, is still playing.
``She teaches me how to do things when I don't get it right,'' Julie Sowers said. ``She's helped me a lot.''
More family ties linked her to last year's powerhouse. Lynette Nolley, the 1993-94 Timesland player of the year and now a freshman player for Virginia Tech, is her cousin.
Don't get the idea that Quesenberry and Sowers are new to this big game business, though.
``Both of them have played a lot of AAU ball,'' Cantrell said. ``They've been all over the country. They've played up at UVa, so they've been on a big floor [like the Civic Center].''
Conner has been on a lot of floors. In fact, it's a wonder she isn't one big floor burn.
``She always gives us a spark with her hustle,'' Cantrell said.
Figure on those three seeing plenty of action next year. So will Melissa Cantrell, the point guard, who will be back for her senior year.
Funny to think that Quesenberry and Sowers still have three more years to go.
``I look forward to having them in the future,'' Alan Cantrell said.
by CNB