Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 28, 1995 TAG: 9501310046
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HILLSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
But despite the early tip-off, Blacksburg really didn't begin playing until around 7:30 - the game's original starting time.
Once the Indians got going, they finished off Carroll County 61-48 in a New River District battle.
The Indians (5-9 overall, 1-1 district) came out of the locker room after halftime with all the energy they had lacked most of the first half. Two short jumpers by Mark Hobeika in the first 36 seconds of the third quarter gave Blacksburg a 29-23 advantage. What had been a close game through the first two periods - neither team led by more than five points - had changed.
Carroll County (4-12, 0-2) called timeout and in the next 11/2 minutes closed to two points.
For the rest of the quarter though, it didn't matter who had the ball for Blacksburg. Phillip Klaus had a three-point play and followed up his own miss. Jim Reemsnyder had a stickback and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the period. Anthony Wheeler added three points and six rebounds.
"We started to run our offense and get the shots," explained Reemsnyder. "In the first half, we got some shots but we didn't make them. In the second half, we started making our shots. We set up and we played all around the basket [on offense]."
That small change in tactics came as a result of what the Indians were told at halftime.
"They were packing the inside, therefore we had to go with plan number two," said Blacksburg coach Bob Trear. "We had to get the person in close, get them the ball and have them put up elbow [length] shots. In the first half, we were forcing it inside or putting up long shots."
Blacksburg foreshadowed its second-half explosion in the last 37 seconds of the first half, with Carroll County leading 23-20.
A free throw by Klaus cut the lead to two points. Klaus missed his second free throw, Blacksburg got the rebound and Aaron Marshall scored to tie the score at 23.
Then a Jon Hutchins steal and layup with 20 seconds to go gave the Indians a 25-23 halftime lead.
``That run was a big momentum builder for them,'' said Carroll County coach Pat Sharp.
Carroll County tried to catch up by fouling in the fourth quarter. But the Indians held the lead by going 13-of-17 at the line, including 6-of-9 by Trent Peterson and 4-of-4 by Andrew Dorsey.
Matt Larrowe led the Cavaliers with 21 points. He had 11 in the fourth quarter as he took over the offense in the Carroll County comeback attempt.
Klaus led Blacksburg with 14 points.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB