Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 17, 1994 TAG: 9412190075
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
What had been a spectator's delight in the opening half, two teams scurrying up and down the floor, turned into a coach's masterpiece. The Terriers prevailed 68-57, showing patience and turning away the Highlanders' upset attempt.
``The difference between Byrd this year and last is that they don't get rattled,'' said Glenvar coach Art Lawrence. ``They knew where to get the ball whenever we came close.''
And Byrd turned to Jeremy Obenchain for its offense. Obenchain had a career-high 30 points and scored 10 in the final quarter as the Terriers (3-0) pulled away from the Highlanders (2-1).
``They kept feeding the ball to me, making good passes to the post,'' Obenchain said. ``I had a bad first half. Coach [Paul Barnard] kept telling me to play through my frustration. Defensively, I didn't do the things I wanted to do.''
Byrd led the entire second half, but Glenvar kept hanging around. Toward the end of the third quarter, the Terriers slowed the tempo, passed the ball more and began looking for the open shot. That was important because Glenvar was doing a number on Byrd on the boards, outrebounding the Terriers 40-30 thanks to James Williams' 14.
But Byrd finally broke the game open, zooming to a 60-50 lead with a 7-0 spurt. Obenchain hit a layup and then Mike McGuire, who had been slowed with personal foul problems, quickly hit another layup and a 3-point shot.
After that, it was a matter of Byrd making its free throws, which it did by hitting six straight in the final few minutes.
``Our defense wasn't as good as it has been in the past games, but that was because Glenvar did a good job of screening,'' Barnard said. ``In the first quarter, we rushed our shots. We wanted to score, but it wasn't because Glenvar was a Group A team. Our kids know they're tough. All in all, we did what we had to to win the game.''
Corey Willis scored 11 of Glenvar's 13 points in the first quarter. He had 14 at the half, but the Terriers held him to three points in the second half. Byrd's Chris Childress scored eight points in the opening half, but only six after intermission.
That forced other people to take over. Obenchain did it for Byrd while Williams did it for Glenvar with 15 points to go along with his 14 rebounds.
``I thought our free-throw shooting was poor and we didn't finish off some shots,'' Lawrence said.
Glenvar is one of the two teams figured to fight for the Pioneer District title. The other is Parry McCluer, the Terriers' opponent in the opening round of the Nations Bank Holiday Hoops Classic that starts Dec. 26 in Salem.
WILLIAM BYRD (68)
Childress 6 2-4 14, Obenchain 10 8-9 30, Tuck 2 0-0 5, Bryant 2 0-1 4, McGuire 3 0-0 8, Wilson 0 4-5 4, Muddiman 1 0-0 2, English 0 1-4 1. Totals 24 15-23 68.
GLENVAR (57)
Willis 7 2-5 18, Williams 4 7-13 15, Taylor 2 0-0 4, Darnell 1 1-2 3, Williamson 1 2-2 4, East 1 0-0 2, Varney 1 4-4 6, Atkinson 2 1-4 5. Totals 19 17-30 57.
William Byrd 19--20--12--17-68
Glenvar 13--22--13---9-57
Three-point goals: McGuire 2, Obenchain 2, Tuck, Willis 2. Team fouls: William Byrd 24, Glenvar 19.
JV: William Byrd, 45-39.
by CNB