Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 27, 1994 TAG: 9412280016
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWIGHT FOXX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Matt Matheny led Cave Spring with 19 points as the Knights trounced Group AA Rockbridge County 81-52 Monday at the Salem Civic Center.
``What you saw is one team that has more talent than the other,'' said Chris Carr, Cave Spring's coach. ``We have more talent; the team with more talent should win.''
Cave Spring (5-3) will advance to today's semifinal round with a 7:45 p.m. contest against Salem, a 53-52 winner over Franklin County on Monday.
Rockbridge (0-5) falls into the loser's bracket and will play Franklin County today at 3:45 p.m.
The Knights, sparked by Matheny, scored the first six points of the game and led 25-5 after one period. Matheny scored 10 points in the opening quarter, and James Irvin added five points and five of his six assists.
Cave Spring, which won its fourth consecutive game, shot 70.6 percent (12-of-17) in the first quarter; 65.5 percent (19-of-29) in the first half and 59.6 percent for the game (34-of-57).
With the Knights shooting well and jumping out to a big lead, Carr was able to substitute freely. The Cave Spring bench played eight of a possible 16 minutes in the first half and the final 10 minutes of the game.
``That's a great feeling for us,'' Carr said. ``[The substitutes] work just as hard, if not harder, than the starters. It's nice to be able to throw them a bone [playing time].''
Cave Spring stymied Rockbridge with a 1-3-1 zone that forced Wildcats center Rob Hoyle to come to the top of the paint in hopes of getting the ball. Hoyle only scored seven points on 2-of-8 shooting, while several other opportunities were stolen by the Cave Spring guards and turned into fast-break points.
The Rockbridge turnovers contributed to Cave Spring shooting nearly 70 percent from the field through three periods.
``We didn't play any defense,'' said Damon Williams, Rockbridge County's coach. ``We played very lax defense. We allowed too many easy baskets. Offensively, we were standing around and not moving the ball.''
Cave Spring (81)
Shertz 1 0-0 3, Collins 2 1-2 5, Gadd 2 0-0 5, Irvin 2 2-2 7, Finnerty 4 1-2 11, Smith 1 0-0 2, Cullinan 1 0-0 2, Beekman 3 0-0 7, Frantz 6 0-0 12, Johnston 1 0-0 2, Lang 1 0-0 2, Matheny 8 3-3 19, Freany 2 0-0 4. Totals 34 7-9 81.
Rockbridge County (52)
Remillard 5 0-1 10, Wright 4 2-2 12, Terrell 5 0-1 14, Byers 1 2-2 4, Hoyle 2 3-4 7, Early 2 0-2 5. Totals 19 7-12 52.
Cave Spring 25--18--24--14-81
Rockbridge County 5--22--12--13-52
Three-point goals: Shertz, Gadd, Irvin, Finnerty 2, Beekman, Wright 2, Early, Terrell 4. Total Fouls: Cave Spring 14, Rockbridge 12.
by CNB