Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 4, 1995 TAG: 9503070026
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The Highlanders forced their way into the state basketball tournament for the first time in 20 years Friday by playing physical on offense and defense to beat Lebanon 56-42 in the Region C semifinals at Lord Botetourt High School.
The last time Glenvar reached the state tournament, then as an unheralded member of the Group AA Blue Ridge District, it surprised the state by winning the title. No other Blue Ridge basketball team won a state title until Salem did it last season.
``I don't think we've faced a team with that much pressure,'' said Lebanon coach Brian Hooker, who has the same name as Glenvar's football coach. ``On defense and offense, it was smash-mouth basketball. I know we like to kick the ball into the middle and throw it back out for the 3-point shot. We couldn't do that and their defense got us to doing things we didn't want to do.''
Glenvar will meet Parry McCluer, a 65-48 winner over George Wythe, in an all-Pioneer District championship game at 7 p.m. today.
The Highlanders (18-7) used a man-to-man defense to increase the tempo in the second half as they pulled away from Lebanon (20-4).
``We knew they like to play a half-court game,'' Glenvar coach Art Lawrence said. ``We knew they were big and slow, so we wanted to press them, wear them down. I think their legs gave out in the second half.''
The Highlanders struggled in the first half and didn't lead until James Williams' jumper at the buzzer gave Glenvar a 23-22 halftime edge. At the end of the first quarter, Williams' last-second tip had cut the Pioneers' lead to one.
Williams finished with 13 points, but his most important contribution was his rebounding. His 14 rebounds helped Glenvar outrebound a taller Lebanon team 36-31.
``I was just trying to find an open spot when the point guard got me the ball,'' said Williams of his late shot. ``As far as rebounding, I was just trying to find a spot and box out. The ball was falling right.''
The point guard who fed Williams was tireless Nick Varney, who pushed the ball up against a tough Lebanon defense all night and played excellent defense.
``I wasn't concerned when we fell behind early,'' Varney said. ``It takes awhile to get into the game. I was hoping our defense would wear them out by the end of the game.''
He led a defense that at times looked like a match-up zone and held Lebanon to a 3-pointer from 6-foot-8 Brian Sword in the third quarter as Glenvar outscored the Pioneers 15-3.
Varney had to take a breather to start the fourth quarter and Lebanon went on a 10-0 run to close the Highlanders' lead to 40-35.
``We had to take a chance, but he was so tired, I didn't know if he could make a shot,'' Lawrence said. ``When Nick said he was ready, I put him back in.''
The Highlanders settled down when Varney returned. Williams' layup ended Lebanon's run with 3 minutes,18 seconds left. After Corey Willis hit a free throw to increase Glenvar's lead to 43-35, the Pioneers had to foul and Varney had the ball.
The senior guard was up to the task. He hit seven consecutive free throws in the next 1:05 to put the game away and made nine of 10 in the quarter.
Lebanon made only 16 of 50 field-goal attempts. Sword dealt out a game-high seven assists. ``He's a guard in a 6-foot-8 body,'' said Hooker. ``He averages about four assists a game.''
Glenvar made only 19 of 47 shots. But the Highlanders had a great second half, connecting on 9-of-18, and 14 of 17 free throws.
by CNB