Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503070033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When you play a team five times in one season, it's tough to come up with any surprises for your opponent.
But Cave Spring coach Linda Long did Saturday night in the Northwestern Region final against Roanoke Valley District rival Pulaski County.
The Knights used an early press to pounce on the road-weary Cougars but later had to hold off Pulaski County for a 69-60 victory in a rocking Cave Spring gym.
The Knights (21-4) will open the Group AAA state tournament against Robinson, a 68-40 loser to James Madison in the Northern regional, next weekend at a neutral gym in the Roanoke Valley. Pulaski County (22-4) is left to take on undefeated James Madison, ranked No.18 in the nation by USA Today, in northern Virginia.
``We've never pressed Pulaski County, and they've never pressed us,'' said Long, who was 3-2 against the Cougars this season. ``But I felt like they would be a little fatigued having traveled in the early rounds, and if we came out in a press we could wear them down.''
And it worked - for a half.
Aimee and Allison Beightol, Cave Spring's speedy guard duo, helped stake the Knights to a 38-21 lead by combining for 20 points in the first half. Center Jaclyn Banks added nine points, including a 3-pointer, when the Cougars had a tough time finding any kind of rhythm.
The Knights stretched the lead to 21 points on a three-point play by Aimee Beightol with 3 minutes, 17 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The 5-foot-3 senior drove the lane and was fouled by Kim Cruise. The basket and free throw made it 48-29.
But Cruise, a 6-2 senior center, scored underneath on Pulaski's next possession, and the Cougars outscored the Knights 9-1 to close out the third quarter with Cave Spring holding a 49-36 lead.
Cruise continued the Pulaski rally in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 points in a 13-7 Cougars run that made it 56-49 with 3:21 remaining.
Pulaski's Kara Buckner made it 62-59 with 49 seconds remaining before Emily Rappold and Cheryl Rhodes each missed free-throw attempts for Cave Spring. Then, with 30 seconds left, Aimee Beightol picked up her fourth foul, sending sophomore Lisa Skeens to the line for a one-and-one attempt.
Skeens made the first, making the score 62-60, but missed the second. Rhodes came up with the rebound for the Knights and was fouled by Robyn Bower. Rhodes, who finished with 19 points, was 4-of-4 on free throws down the stretch, helping Cave Spring hang on.
Aimee Beightol also had 19 points for Cave Spring. Banks added 13, and Allison Beightol had 10.
Cruise had a career-high 29 points and was the only player in double figures for Pulaski. All-District selection Jodie Hallett, who averages 15 points per game, was held to seven.
``We wanted to go inside, but the Cave Spring pressure got us rattled,'' Pulaski coach Rod Reedy said. ``In the second half we challenged our players to see what they had deep down in their hearts. ... Finally, we got the ball down to Kim where we wanted it, but it's such a tough job to come back against a team like Cave Spring.''
by CNB