Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230102
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The boys' basketball players from Northside and Alleghany high schools must have been having an awful lot of fun competing with each other Wednesday night, because only reluctantly did they vacate the Salem Civic Center floor so somebody else could play.
In a game that was the Blue Ridge District tournament's version of a Senate filibuster, the Vikings required almost two hours to dispatch mule-stubborn Alleghany 68-63 in a semifinal.
It was neither as pretty to look at as the Vikings' playoff victory over Salem on Monday, nor as dramatic as Alleghany's overtime triumph over Lord Botetourt in the opening round Tuesday. But those who admire tenacity and a firm backbone would have loved it.
Northside (17-6) advances to the 7 p.m. title game Saturday against the winner of Wednesday night's late game between Salem and William Byrd. Alleghany finishes with a 12-9 record.
The game took so long because the combatants combined for 33 fouls and 68 free throws.
The Vikings sank 26 of 39 foul shots as they held off refuse-to-fold Alleghany.
``All those fouls affected the rhythm of the game and slowed us down, but not enough so that we didn't play Northside basketball,'' said Vikings guard Ben Peete, who had 14 points.
The fellow who did the most damage to the Mountaineers was guard Justin Porterfield, who scored 22 points while making 13 of 17 free throws.
``We could not find a way to keep it out of Porterfield's hands in the last 31/2 minutes,'' Alleghany coach Carl Watson said. ``Give them the credit for getting it to the guy who was producing.''
The Mountaineers, who upset Northside during the regular season, stayed in the game because of their free-throw shooting. Alleghany made 21 of 29 with Dusty Rowland, Rashad Worth and Donnie Costigan going a combined 17-for-18.
Worth had 21 points and Rowland 15, but the Mounties had no answer to a 42-14 rebounding deficit.
``Now that was something to be excited about,'' Northside coach Billy Pope said.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB