Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503030139
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Cave Spring girls' basketball coach Linda Long had no scouting report on North Stafford, the towering team from Northern Virginia that invaded the Knights' gym Thursday.
So Long sent the Knights out in a tentative defense to assess the situation. It didn't work.
Cave Spring then switched to what it does best - press and trap - and the Knights (20-4) earned their eighth trip in nine years to the Group AAA state tournament with a 78-51 comeback victory over the Wolverines (13-11) in the semifinals of the Northwestern regional.
Cave Spring will play host to Pulaski County, a 46-43 winner over Woodbridge, Saturday at 7 p.m.
``That was a coaching mistake,'' Long said of the decision not to press early. ``I didn't know a lot about them, except they had two big guns. We came out in the second quarter and realized we could press and get the job done.''
One of North Stafford's big guns was 6-foot center Alexandra Keil, who made four of her first five field-goal attempts - all long jumpers.
Aimee Beightol, who scored a team-high 26 for the Knights, matched Keil's eight first-quarter points, but the Wolverines led 16-12.
With Cave Spring's press set in the second quarter, the game turned in the Knights' favor. Reserve guard Stacie Morioka scored on a pull-up jumper, then followed up with a steal and a layup that tied the score at 20. It was 26-26 at halftime.
Beightol took over in the third quarter with eight points, three steals and three assists in an 18-7 run that gave the Knights a 44-33 lead.
Cave Spring went to its bench and kept the press up in the fourth quarter, extending the lead to 20 points with two minutes to play. North Stafford, which played only six players extensively, was then forced to foul.
``We haven't played that fast-paced a game, not with lightning-quick guards like that,'' said Margaret Lowry, North Stafford's coach.
``They made a good move when they went to [the press]. It's a tribute to good coaching.''
Morioka and point guard Allison Beightol finished with 10 points each. Cheryl Rhodes added 15 points, and center Jaclyn Banks had 11 for Cave Spring.
Five-foot-11 forward Latisha Few had 22 points, and Keil finished with 13 for North Stafford, which knocked off previously undefeated Gar-Field in the first round Tuesday.
``They were on a tremendous emotional high after Gar-Field that left them emotionally drained,'' Lowry said. ``And it was a long bus ride. But even on a full-energy day, Cave Spring is faster.''
The Knights also held a distinct advantage at the free-throw line. Cave Spring was 19-of-28, and North Stafford was 2-of-4.
Saturday's game will be a rematch of the Roanoke Valley District tournament final last week, which Cave Spring won 63-57. The Knights and Cougars have split four games this season.
``Both teams are playing well and shooting well,`` Long said. ``I expect it to be like the last one - down to the wire.''
by CNB