Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 18, 1995 TAG: 9502210019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES &WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
On Monday, the Cougars will try for extra points.
Hash made 12 of 15 field-goal attempts and scored 24 points to lead the Cougars to an 82-71 boys' basketball victory over Franklin County in the Roanoke Valley District.
Timesland's top-ranked team finished the regular season at 17-3, but more importantly 6-2 in the district and tied with William Fleming, a 77-53 winner Friday over Cave Spring.
Pulaski County and William Fleming will have a playoff at 7 p.m. Monday at Patrick Henry High School to determine the No.1 seed for next week's district tournament. The Cougars beat the Colonels twice this season and won 60-54 on Thursday in Dublin.
``I'm happy for the team,'' said Pat Burns, Pulaski County's coach. ``We weren't picked to finish in the top two in the district, and here we are co-district champions.''
Franklin County defeated the Cougars in their first meeting this season, but had difficulty penetrating Pulaski's matchup zone defense Friday.
``Pulaski's a very physical team,'' said Calvin Preston, the Eagles' coach.
Franklin County shot 35.5 percent from the field - 30.2 percent in the first three quarters. The Cougars outrebounded Franklin County by nearly a 2-to-1 margin.
Hash was joined in double figures by Matt Burns (17 points), Eric Webb and Jon Lilly (14 each).
The Cougars led big early, but almost celebrated prematurely. After falling behind 51-28 with 1 minute, 41 seconds left in the third quarter, Franklin County rallied. The Eagles (11-9 , 3-5) scored 38 fourth-quarter points, five more than in the first three periods combined.
``They didn't throw in the towel,'' Burns said. ``They faked us into thinking they'd thrown in the towel. A lack of concentration hurt us near the end. They lulled us to sleep.''
After playing several reserves in the fourth quarter, Preston brought back his starters when the deficit dwindled.
Carlos Holland scored 14 of his team-high 23 points in the period and Franklin County cut Pulaski's lead to 72-63 with 1 minute, 28 seconds left.
``I thought we needed to end on a good note,'' Preston said. ``I hate it that we lost, but all our kids got to play - so they should be fired up Monday to get ready for the tournament.''
\ see microfilm for box score
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.