Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 25, 1995 TAG: 9502280021
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
It has been said that defense wins championships.
Most people will not argue with that assessment, but Friday night at Blacksburg High School, Floyd County took defense to a new level.
The Buffaloes held Auburn to a meager eight points, and only one field goal, in the game's final 9 minutes and 31 seconds en route to defeating the high-octane Eagles 70-52 in the initial Three Rivers District boys' basketball tournament.
Holding any team to eight points in nine-and-a-half minutes is a difficult chore. But the Auburn Eagles? The same team that had defeated Floyd twice in the last seven days and three times in four previous meeting this season?
``We did an excellent job of covering their shooters the entire game, especially in the third and fourth quarters,'' said Floyd coach Alan Cantrell. ``We talked about more effort and focus on defense before the game.''
Floyd's defensive stretch began after a Kenny Wojciechowski basket gave the Eagles what would prove to be their final lead 44-41, with 1:31 left in the third quarter. Sparked by nine points from Brian Harman, the Buffalos embarked on a 19-0 run.
During the decisive run, Floyd nailed 7 of its 13 field-goal attempts, but more impressively held the Eagles to 0-for-6 field-goal shooting and forced six turnovers.
``There is a lot of hurt when you lose a game like this,'' said Auburn coach Kevin Harris. ``If I could explain it, it wouldn't happen. With any team you are going to go through offensive droughts, we just hit one at an inopportune time.''
After being held scoreless for 7:17, Auburn broke the drought with a pair of free throws, cutting the Eagles' deficit to 60-46.
Any hopes of an Auburn comeback were quickly squelched by Harman who sank all eight of his free-throw attempts in the last 2 minutes.
``I love shooting free throws,'' said Harman, who scored 19 of his game-high 26 points in the second half. ``I knew I had to make them, or they would make a run. I didn't think about it. I just stroked them down.''
In all the Buffalos hit 12 of their last 15 free-throw attempts, after making only five of their first 10.
``It feels so good to win this game, I can't even explain it,'' said Floyd senior Jamie Warren. ``It just came togther for us. We knew what we had to do and we did it.''
The first half featured 10 lead changes, the last of which came on a 22-foot Bradley Hudgins jumper with 5 seconds left to give the Eagles a 30-29 halftime lead.
Hudgins was the driving force behind the Eagles in the first half, scoring 12 points. With Auburn trailing 28-21 in the second quarter, Hudgins picked off an errant Floyd pass and delivered a 45-foot bounce pass that hit Terry Millirons in stride for an easy layup.
``It is the mark of a good team to put setbacks behind you,'' said Harris, whose team will open Region C playoff action Tuesday night. ``We have always been able to come back [after a loss], and be ready to play.''
The Eagles were led by Jon Reed, who scored their only field goal in the final quarter, with 17 points.
by CNB