Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502220112
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Mike Padgett led Liberty with a game-high 19 points. Steven Shrader poured in 17, Chris Ridgeway tossed in 11, and Ryan Stevens added 10 for the Minutemen (19-2).
Chad Loving had 16 points for Nelson County. Chris Grey added 10 points for the Governors (6-15).
Liberty, the fifth-ranked team in Group AA, will play the winner of tonight's Staunton River-Altavista game in a semifinal matchup at Liberty University on Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Mountain Empire
Narrows 69, Bland 60: In Narrows, Patrick Bailey hit his first three shots of the game - all 3-pointers - and the Green Wave survived a late fourth-quarter rally to get past the Rockets in the first round.
With the win, Narrows advances to the tournament semifinals where it will meet regular-season champion, Grayson County. The Green Wave split with the Blue Devils in the regular season.
Bailey finished with 20 points as Narrows (12-9) led by 15 after three quarter. The Rockets (10-11) cut the lead to seven in the fourth behind Shannon Havens, who scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, and Monty Matthews, who scored 12 of his 14 in the fourth quarter.
Bailey, though, hit all six of his free throw attempts in the fourth quarter and Bryan Pruett, who scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, hit five of six free throws as the Green Wave made 18 of 23 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold on for the win.
Fort Chiswell 61, Galax 48: In Max Meadows, the third-seeded Pioneers finally took charge in the fourth quarter, outscoring the sixth-seeded Maroon Tide 23-11 in the final eight minutes to break open a tight game.
Jody Burnett scored seven of his 17 points in the fourth period to lead the Fort Chiswell charge. Burnett and teammate Shannon Jonas each collected 12 rebounds.
Jeff Ross had 14 points and Ken Houtz 12 for Galax (9-12).
Three Rivers
Radford 41, Shawsville 38: In Blacksburg, Foster Ridpath scored 14 points as the Bobcats came from behind in the fourth quarter to defeat the Shawnees in a first-round contest.
Shawsville led 25-24 going into the final period but Matt Linkous sank two 3-pointers to spark a Radford rally.
Chuck Hubbard had 12 points for Radford (9-12).
Tommy Jones and Mark Akers each scored 11 points for Shawsville (2-19).
Pioneer
Covington 69, Highland 65: In Covington, the Rams pulled to within four points of the Cougars, but couldn't manage to upset a team they lost to 94-38 last week.
Covington (14-7) committed a school-record 35 turnovers as it advanced to Friday's semifinal against Glenvar. Glenvar defeated Craig County 77-44. Dusty Roman scored 16 points for the Cougars.
Highland (6-15) turned over the ball 28 times. The Rams got 16 points from Ryan Harris.
Parry McCluer 56, James River 43: In Buena Vista, Mike Elroy scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Fighting Blues downed the Knights in a first-round game.
Parry McCluer, the No. 4 seed, advances to meet regular-season champion Bath County in Friday's tournament semifinals at Dabney Lancaster in Clifton Forge.
The Blues (16-6) built a 15-4 first-quarter lead and cruised until the Knights (9-12) made a late run, chopping the hosts' lead to six midway in the fourth quarter. But McElroy kept James River at bay, hitting nine of 11 free throws down the stretch.
Brandon Garrett scored 15 points for the Blues. Brian Shorter paced the Knights with 11 points.
Glenvar 77, Craig County 44: The Highlanders opened a 17-4 cushion in the first quarter, and Corey Willis scored 18 points in 3 quarters, as Glenvar cruised to victory over the Rockets in a first-round game at Glenvar.
All 13 players scored for the Highlanders (14-7) for the fourth time this season. James Williams had 11 points and Perry Taylor 10. The Highlanders outrebounded the Rockets 37-24.
Robby Huffman led Craig County (3-18) with 20 points.
Piedmont
Bassett 71, Magna Vista 53: In Bassett, Tyree Hairston scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Bengals routed the Warriors in the first round.
Bassett (13-8) opened a 31-15 halftime lead and never looked back.
Tony Hagwood scored 15 points for Magna Vista (8-13). Leroy Valentine and Jermaine Simmons each scored 12.
Bassett will meet Martinsville in a semifinal game Thursday at 7 at Bassett. The Bulldogs defeated Chatham 84-72 in another first-round matchup.
Laurel Park 69, Patrick County 51: In Martinsville, the Lancers spotted the upset-minded Cougars an eight-point first-quarter lead, then stormed back for a win in the first round of the Piedmont District tournament.
Down 20-12 after one quartrer, the Lancers (16-5) turned up the defensive pressure and outscored the Cougars 57-31 the rest of the way.
Warrick Scott led the winners with 20 points, while Corey Wilson added 18 points. Rashard Wall had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Lancers.
Martinsville 84, Chatham 72: In Martinsville, the Bulldogs held off a fourth quarter Cavalier rally as Martinsville rolled to victory in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Michael Martin had a team-high 23 points to lead the Bulldogs (17-4) and Manti Venable poured in 20 points. Carlos Martin added 16 points for Martinsville, the fourth-ranked team in Group AA.
Scott Whitt scored a game-high 26 points for Chatham, including four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter rally. Torrence Martin, Marcus Luck and Franklin Fitzgerald each added 11 points.
Martinsville will play Bassett at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Bassett in the Piedmont District semifinals.
Fieldale-Collinsville 77, Gretna 65: In Collinsville, Gretna's 31-point onslaught in the fourth quarter brought the Hawks close, but it wasn't enough as Fieldale-Collinsville rolled to victory.
Nat Law and Brian Alley led the Cavaliers (16-6) with 15 points a piece. Brad Harmon also added 10 for Fieldale-Colinsville.
Brian Robinson led Gretna (7-14) comback bid, draining three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, part of his 13 total points. William Merit was the high scorer for the Hawks with 17.
Fieldale-Collinsville will play Laurel Park at 7:30 Friday night in Bassett in a Piedmont District Tournament semifinal.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB