Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503030137
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHLANDS LENGTH: Medium
Each scored 10 points in the fourth quarter as the Blue Demons downed Richlands 77-67 in a semifinal of the Region IV boys' basketball tournament at Richlands Middle School.
The victory propelled Christiansburg to a school-record 20th victory and a berth in next week's Group AA quarterfinals. The Blue Demons (20-4) travel to Gate City (20-2) - a 73-59 winner over Blacksburg - on Saturday for the regional final.
The outcome still was in doubt when the Blue Tornado (16-8) twice cut its deficit to three points in the opening 1:10 of the fourth quarter.
That's when Calloway and Hairston started taking turns scoring big baskets for Christiansburg.
Each hit a layup to push the Demons' lead back to five points each time.
The teams swapped baskets for the next couple of minutes. But the Demons got the best of the exchange as Hairston found his long-range shooting touch and nailed a pair of 20-footers.
``I just had to get my shot back. I haven't shot well the past two games,'' said Hairston, who finished with 20 points. ``This is when I've got to make the big shots to win. I've got to help the team. It's almost 100 percent now. It will be there the next game.''
After Hairston's 3s, it was Calloway's turn. He kept coming up with loose balls and turning them into fast-break layups.
``I was just ready to play. I didn't want the season to be over yet,'' said Calloway, who finished with 24 points, a game-high 13 rebounds and three steals. ``We made the plays we needed to for most of the game. We did the things we needed to do. And we did what we've done all year - we used our quickness.''
Eventually the Demons built a 12-point lead. Uncharacteristically poor free-throw shooting by Christiansburg - it missed the front end of two one-and-ones - allowed the Blue Tornado to close to 67-62 with 29 seconds to go.
But the Demons hit five of seven free throws the rest of the way to win by a comfortable margin and send Richlands to its eighth consecutive loss in regional play.
``They have no conscience,'' Richlands coach Tom Rife said of Calloway and Hairston. ``They'll shoot from anywhere. They're very athletic. And if you move up to cover them, they will put the ball on the floor and split the defense.''
The work of the Christiansburg duo would have gone for naught had the Demons not found a way to stop Brandon Vernon.
The 6-foot-5 senior center had a 3-inch height advantage over anyone Christiansburg used to guard him and scored at will in the first half, accumulating 17 points.
The second half was a different story, though. Donald Thompson and the rest of the Demons held Vernon to nine points - only four on inside baskets.
``Coach [Gerald Thompson] said to get in there and keep him out,'' Donald Thompson said. ``We kept him out of there and that was it. We played hard and worked on him, so we were able to keep him out of there.''
The Demons also had another ally to combat Richland's height: quickness. That helped Christiansburg force a dozen turnovers while only committing five.
by CNB