Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 11, 1995 TAG: 9502150017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
When it counted Friday night, the Blue Demons shot well.
And that was enough for Christiansburg to turn back archrival Blacksburg, 73-53, and claim its first New River District boys' basketball title in 34 years of league competition.
The Blue Demons (15-3 overall, 4-0 district), ranked sixth in the state in Group AA, also earned the right to host the district tournament and, more importantly, clinched a berth in the Region IV tournament later this month.
``We came out and hit everything we shot,'' explained senior Ryan Hubble. ``In the third quarter, we got off to a fast start like we did in the first quarter. We've had two bad shooting games in a row. So we were due for a good one tonight.''
The third period was decisive. The Indians (6-11, 1-2) scored first to close to within 33-29. But eight quick points by Christiansburg - including 3-pointers by John Hairston and Darrell Calloway - put the lead at 12 points just two minutes into the quarter. And it remained double digits the rest of the game.
``We wanted to get our game going, that's what we have to do in all of our games,'' Hairston said about the scoring explosion in which he scored seven of his game-high 17 points in the third period. ``We have to play the way we have to play to get the job done.''
Also keying the surge was Donald Thompson. The senior had only seven points, but they all came in the first 61/2 minutes after intermission.
``I knew I hadn't scored in the first half and I thought I better,'' said Thompson. ``I was moving around and everyone was setting picks that were leaving me open on the inside.''
For the quarter, Christiansburg made 9 of 13 shots (69.2 percent). And when the period ended, it held a commanding 54-39 lead.
The Demons made just two baskets in the final eight minutes. But they made 15 of 18 free throws (83.3 percent) to stave off any attempts at a comeback by Blacksburg.
Christiansburg's third-period run was foreshadowed by the way it began the game - 9-of-12 (75 percent) from the field in the first period. Four 3-pointers in the first four minutes ignited a 16-8 lead. And that advantage reached 22-12 with less than two minutes left in the quarter.
But Anthony Wheeler kept the Indians close. He scored 10 of his team-high 16 points in the period. That included four in the final 1:40 that cut the Christiansburg advantage to six.
In the second quarter, Blacksburg pulled to three points several times. But in the final 11/2 minutes of the half, the Indians became their own worse enemy.
``We turned the ball over and then we would turn around and immediately send them to the foul line,'' explained Blacksburg coach Bob Trear.
The late free throws enabled Christiansburg to take a 33-27 lead at halftime.
``That got us up by six at halftime,'' said Christiansburg coach Gerald Thompson. ``Then in the third quarter we hit the two quick threes and we got our game reestablished. And the defense picked it up a notch.''
by CNB