Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502020030
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Five seconds left, tie score against an undefeated team and you are the player called upon to deliver the victory. You've played nearly the entire game, missing only 10 seconds in the third quarter because of an unusually hard fall, in a stifling gym on a Friday in late January.
For Pulaski County's Tyrone Hash, the dream became a reality, and he did not allow it to turn into a nightmare. Hash, who was actually the second option on the play, came off a pick, elevated over a would-be defender and drained a 10-foot jump shot to give Pulaski a 67-65 win over Roanoke Valley District rival William Fleming.
"It was a weird feeling," Hash said. "When I was making the move I zoned out and did not feel any pressure. When I shot the ball it felt good, but then I couldn't hear the buzzer because the crowd was so loud. I turned around and saw that time had expired and I was like 'I really made the shot.'"
Hash called the shot the biggest of his career and nobody in Pulaski County will argue that point. The Cougars were playing their second game in as many nights and had played only six players the entire game. That, added to the balmy conditions in the William Fleming gym, did not make overtime an appealing alternative.
"Any victory is a good victory, but to go on the road and defeat a team ranked in the top 10 in the state is particularly nice," said Pulaski coach Pat Burns. Fleming is ranked fifth.
The win raised the Cougars' record to 2-2 in district play and allowed them to control their own destiny in pursuit of the RVD title, and ultimately a trip to the regional tournament.
"I believe it [the Fleming game] boosted our confidence," said Hash, a small forward. "We knew we could beat the teams in our district but we have not played as good as we can at times. If we play like that each game we can advance to regionals and state."
If the Cougars are to continue playing at the level they attained against the Colonels, and Abingdon the night before in a 75-47 win, Hash will be a key.
"I know when it is time to step up my all-around game," said Hash, who is averaging nearly 18 points a game and shooting 54 percent from the field. "The end of the season is drawing near and I want the team to do well. A lot of that depends on how I play."
Other notable performances:
Pulaski's Eric Webb was instrumental in the Cougars big victory scoring 29 points and grabbing nine rebounds against the Colonels. Webb scored seven points against Abingdon.
Auburn's Jon Reed and Terry Millirons led the Eagles to two victories last week. Millirons hit a free throw after time had expired to give Auburn a 69-68 win over Narrows. Millirons scored 16 points in the game while Reed paced the Eagles with 23 points. In a 74-44 rout of Shawsville, Reed scored 26 points and Millirons chipped in 20 to go along with 14 rebounds.
by CNB