Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 15, 1995 TAG: 9502160033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BUCHANAN LENGTH: Medium
They're the fundamental tenets of championship tennis, and as Glenvar's Nick Varney demonstrated at James River's gym Tuesday night, cogent advice for winning basketball as well.
Varney, Group A state singles tennis titlist two of the past three years, led Glenvar's basketball team to a 55-43 win over James River in a Pioneer District contest.
The Highlanders upped their record to 11-6 overall and moved into a first-place tie with Covington for the district lead at 7-2.
James River stands at 9-10, 5-6.
Varney made three important fourth-quarter steals and scored all of his nine points in the final period, breaking open a game in which the score was tied at 36 with seven minutes remaining.
``We just decided to play,'' said Varney, who had attempted only one field goal in the first three periods. Varney made all four of his field-goal attempts in the fourth period, before missing three free throws that kept James River within striking distance.
``It wasn't pretty, but it was a win,'' said Glenvar coach Art Lawrence. ``Nick provided senior leadership. He made only two turnovers in the game, and his hustle was contagious.''
Neither team led by more than five points until the final period, when Glenvar implemented a man-to-man trap defense that created a flurry of turnovers and ensuing baskets.
``We went right down to the end with them, but I thought turnovers were the biggest difference,'' James River coach Randy Howard said. ``Our team sort of panicked.''
James River failed on several opportunities in the game's final 90 seconds.
Trailing 51-43, James River committed 10 consecutive fouls - four before the Highlanders qualified for the bonus, and six more after the one-and-one went into effect - before Glenvar scored another point.
But the Knights were unable to score either and stayed at 43 for the remainder of the game.
``We had plenty of chances,'' Howard said. ``We just didn't capitalize on them.''
``This is not one of my better foul-shooting teams,'' Lawrence said, ``but I thought I had the right people in the game.''
Center James Williams led the Highlanders with 17 points, 11 in the first half.
Shahan Burrell and Brian Shorter scored 14 and 10 points, respectively, for the Knights.
Neither team shot well. Glenvar was 22-of-52 (42.3 percent) in field-goal shooting and 9-of-17 (52.9 percent) from the free-throw line.
James River's figures were 39.5 percent from the field (17-of-43) and 58.3 percent (7-of-12) on free throws.
The Highlanders will play three more games in the next four nights - two against Craig County, the last place team in the district.
by CNB