Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 21, 1995 TAG: 9502210094
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Because of their correct responses, the Eagles beat Floyd County 73-66 in the Three River District boys' basketball playoff at Blacksburg High.
Auburn (15-6) earned the top seed in the district tournament and its first berth in the Group A Region C playoffs since 1982.
Floyd County (15-6) rolled off eight straight points and closed to 59-58 with 4 minutes, 49 seconds left. But Auburn responded with defense and free throws.
``We've been here before,'' said Terry Millirons, who scored a game-high 21 points. ``We've had our opportunities. We didn't want to be denied. We had to do it.''
The Eagles hit their first 10 free throws while going 14-of-17 over the final 4:31. Millirons went 4-for-4, and Jon Reed and Bradley Hudgins were 4-for-5.
``We shoot a lot in practice,'' said Reed, who had 19 points, including the 1,000th of his career. ``We either make them or we run, put it that way.''
As Auburn was making free throws, the Buffaloes could not make anything. They went 3-of-15 from the field, including 0-of-6 from 3-point range, and 2-of-6 from the foul line over the last 41/2 minutes.
``The big key was our shooting,'' said Floyd County coach Alan Cantrell. ``Both in free throws and from the field we didn't shoot very well. If we had had a couple of threes go in in the last minute-and-a-half, things might have gone differently. We executed some things real well and we played well enough to win. But you have to give Auburn credit. They made the big baskets when they had to.''
One person making big baskets was Hudgins. Twice the Buffaloes took two-point leads in the third quarter. And both times Hudgins put Auburn back in front with a 3-pointer the next trip down the floor.
``I had the shot, I had to take the shot or they double-down inside,'' explained Hudgins, who had 15 points. ``It just happened that it went in, I guess.''
Also making big shots was Kenny Wojciechowski. He scored 10 of his 14 points in the first quarter as the Eagles bolted to a seven-point lead.
Brian Harman paced Floyd County with 15 points.
by CNB