Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 1, 1995 TAG: 9503010087
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Vikings (20-4) won their 13th consecutive game by outscoring Pulaski County 23-13 and shut down Roanoke Valley District scoring leader Eric Webb without a point in the second half. Webb eventually fouled out.
``We became rattled. We didn't do things well that we normally do,'' said Pulaski County coach Pat Burns.
Pulaski County closed to within 40-37 on a field goal by Brian Ratliff, but that was as close as the Cougars (18-6) came. Ahmad Dorsett hit six consecutive free throws down the stretch to win the game for the Vikings.
Aaron Demory scored 17 points and turned in the defensive job on Webb. Tyrone Hash led Pulaski County with 13.
Northwestern girls
Pulaski County 48, Albemarle 45: In Charlottesville, Jodie Hallett and Kim Cruise scored Pulaski's last seven points in the closing 1 minute, 56 seconds as the Cougars escaped Albemarle in a Northwestern Region tournament girls' game.
Hallet drained a 3-pointer from the right wing with just under two minutes remaining to put Pulaski up 44-43. After Albemarle's Sarah Trayers banked in a jumper to put the Patriots back up, Cruise put back an offensive rebound with 57 seconds left to put the Cougars up for good.
Hallett hit two free throws with under 30 seconds left to ice the game. Trayers had two 3-point attempts but missed them both in the closing seconds to give Pulaski County the win.
Hallett finished with a game-high 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
"[Jodie] is our best offensive player," said Pulaski coach Rod Reedy. "She's the best offensive player I've ever coached. When it's close, we're going to try to get her the ball."
The Cougars' 6-foot-2 center Kim Cruise won a tough battle with Albemarle's 6-4 center Kelly McCandlish. Cruise outscored her taller counterpart 13-6 and also grabbed 12 rebounds over McCandlish.
"We knew it was going to be a battle and come down to the end," said Reedy. "We were fortunate enough to find a way to win."
Pulaski won the definsive battle, holding Albemarle to its lowest point total of the year. The Cougars also generated 13 turnovers, all though they turned the ball over 26 times themselves.
Albemarle coach Anita Jenkins said, "Defensively, I thought we did a fantastic job. But what do you do offensively? It was like we were confued on offense."
Trayers led Albemarle (17-6) with 13 points and Alivian Coates added 12 in the losing effort.
Kim McConnell scored six points and dished out six assists for the Cougars (21-3).
Region C
George Wythe 78, Auburn 70: In Riner, the Maroons held off Auburn after building a big lead to earn a semifinal berth against Parry McCluer.
Auburn cut a 56-29 deficit to 69-68 in the fourth quarter before Wythe's Jon Ervin hit 4-of-5 free throws in the final minutes to keep the Maroons (20-5) ahead.
Aaron Andrews and Jon Ervin combined for 43 points. Andre Cook had 15 points while Skip Copenhaver added 11 points and five steals for the winners.
Auburn (16-8) was paced by Jon Reed with 21 and Kenny Wojciechowski with 20. they each had eight points in the third quarter when Auburn outscored Wythe 24-10 to start the comeback.
Lebanon 77, Narrows 60: In Lebanon, the Hilton brothers, Ben and Wade, combined to score 45 of Lebanon's 77 points as the Pioneers advance to the Region C semifinals with the win over Narrows.
Lebanon (20-3) will play the winner of the Floyd County-Glenvar game on Friday at Lord Botetourt at 8:30 p.m. Ben Hilton matched a career-high with 34 points and also grabbed 13 rebounds. He scored 10 in the first quarter as Lebanon (20-3) grabbed an early three-point lead at the end of one quarter.
Wade Hilton then scored seven of his 11 points in the second quarter as the Pioneers jumped out to 13-point halftime lead.
Narrows (14-10) was led by guard Patrick Bailey, who scored 27 points, including seven 3-pointers. Bailey hit four 3-pointers in the first half en route to 16 first half points.
Region IV
Blacksburg 45, Graham 44: In Bluefield, Blacksburg overcame a three-point first quarter and Graham missed two shots in the closing 30 seconds, as the Indians narrowly escaped the G-Men in a Region IV game.
Phillip Klaus scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Blacksburg (11-11) and Anthony Wheeler tossed in nine points.
Jacob Dews led Graham with 18 points as the G-Men (11-12) closed their season.
Blacksburg will travel to Gate City for a 7 p.m. meeting with the Blue Devils on Thursday.
by CNB