Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502220094
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Terriers made it official Tuesday by easing past winless Rockbridge County 83-65 in a first-round game of the Blue Ridge District basketball tournament at the Salem Civic Center.
Byrd (18-4) wasn't particularly sharp and the Terriers were never in trouble. Rockbridge County, despite an 0-22 record, didn't go without a lot of effort.
The Terriers meet Salem tonight at 8:30 in the semifinals. If Northside wins the first game, Byrd and the Spartans will be playing for a Region III berth. Salem nipped Byrd twice in the regular season on a last-second shot and with a 19-point comeback.
``I think Rockbridge played real aggressive. That's a good job by Coach [Damon] Williams. They could have done nothing,'' said Byrd coach Paul Barnard.
``We came out a little flat. What got us going is that we started trapping on the wings. We didn't have much emotion. We were coming off the Northside game and had beaten Rockbridge twice.''
The Terriers got 23 points from Jeremy Obenchain on 10-of-16 shooting. Kevin Tuck added 18, Chris Childress chipped in with 16 and Michael McGuire added 12 as four starters hit double figures.
``We played very well the first half. Defensively, we kept them off the boards. Then we started getting tired underneath and they started getting second and third shots,'' said Williams.
Jaymie Terrell, a sophomore, led Rockbridge County with 19 points. Ricky Wright, another 10th grader, dealt out nine assists. T.J. Pettis, a junior, had four blocks.
As for Salem, Barnard realizes a loss will leave his team, which has one of Timesland's best records, with no season left.
``We're going to hit the last-second shot this time,'' Barnard predicted with a smile. ``It'll be a good game. Some of our guys went to the Salem-Northside [playoff game for the regular-season title].''
One was McGuire.
``It doesn't matter whom we play. Really. We just have to keep playing hard,'' McGuire said.
by CNB