Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 8, 1995 TAG: 9502080095
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Salem used balanced scoring, precision free-throw shooting and a physical defense to pound the Cavaliers 75-52 in a high school boys' basketball game at Salem's gym.
In a previous meeting this season in Daleville, Salem prevailed 65-55. Tuesday night, the Spartans jumped to a 10-point lead in the first quarter and opened it up from there.
The Spartans had four starters in double figures, including Matt Woolwine and Kevin Garst, who scored 17 and 15 points, respectively. Bryan Monroe contributed 12 points and Chad Pendleton scored 11, as nine different Spartans broke into the scoring column.
Salem (10-7 overall, 5-2 district) converted 34 of 44 free throws (77.3 percent), making 18 straight during one stretch. Garst was 11-of-13 from the line.
Although the Spartans dominated, coach Charlie Morgan was disappointed with his team's lack of concentration after it frittered away most of a 33-point lead.
``I never was in such a hurry to get a game over in my life,'' Morgan said.
Substituting freely in the third and fourth periods, Morgan became anguished as his team's lead began to dissipate.
``I tried to play my bench,'' Morgan said. ``They want playing time. But when you get a team down like we did, you need to continue doing the things that got you there.
``We totally went away from that. We may have been watching the scoreboard, and we may have gotten out of focus.
``But when I put my starters back in, they weren't executing either. It was pitiful.''
Lord Botetourt (9-8, 2-5) outscored the Spartans 24-4 in a six-minute span, cutting its deficit to 63-50 with 3:01 left. Cavalier guard Ryan Salvi connected on five 3-pointers in the second half, finishing with a team-high 17 points after going scoreless in the first two periods.
The Spartans held their visitors without a first-period field goal, while making five of nine shots (55 percent) and led 15-4 at the quarter break.
``They do a real good job of not allowing you to run your offense,'' said Don Meredith, the Cavaliers' coach. ``They take you out of your schemes.''
The Spartans opened a 27-point first-half lead (40-13) and increased it to 33 late in the third quarter (59-26).
Morgan was especially pleased with the performance of Monroe, his point guard who sat out the last period to rest an injury.
Monroe did not miss on three shots from the floor, and was six-of-seven from the free-throw line. He also controlled his team's offense with minimal turnovers.
by CNB