Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 10, 1995 TAG: 9503100056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
When Liberty takes on Gate City at 7:30 p.m. at Virginia High School in Bristol, the Group AA first-round contest will pit a pair of ex-Pulaski County assistant coaches - the Minutemen's Mark Hanks and the Blue Devils' Greg Ervin.
This is one of four state tournament games tonight involving Timesland teams. In the Group AAA girls tournament, Cave Spring plays James Robinson from the Northern Region at Salem High at 7 p.m.
In a Group A first round doubleheader at Virginia Tech's Cassell Coliseum, two Pioneer District teams will attempt to make the state's final four. Glenvar meets Twin Springs at 7 p.m. before Parry McCluer, a state runner-up last year, takes on Council at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, at 7 p.m. at Salem High School, Northside battles Christiansburg in another Group AA game. The Pulaski County girls have the unenviable task of playing James Madison, ranked 18th nationally by USA Today, at Hayfield High School at 6 p.m.
In the Gate City-Liberty game, there are mixed feelings about the reunion on the court for the former coaching mates.
``I'm getting so old, I can't remember when [Ervin and Hanks] were both here at the same time,'' said Pulaski County boys coach Pat Burns, who had Ervin and Hanks on his staff. ``I know they were friends ... We all had a good relationship. It was an enjoyable experience at the time. I'm pleased and proud they're so far along, playing to go to the final four.''
``It's tough, going up against a friend,'' Hanks said. ``I know I got used to it going up against [Altavista coach] Mike Cartolaro this year. We were suite mates at Emory & Henry.''
``I hate that we're playing in a way,'' Ervin said. ``I never dreamed when we were in camp together [two summers ago] that we'd be playing each other.''
Both young coaches have their programs on the upswing. Liberty (21-4) was ranked fifth in the final Associated Press Group AA poll, and Gate City (22-2) was sixth.
In postseason play, Gate City has been hot, winning both the Highlands District and Region IV crowns. Liberty lost in the Seminole District semifinals to Altavista 58-57, and then was crushed by Northside 63-42 in the Region III championship game.
The Minutemen will try and create an up-tempo game.
``From what I understand, they're big, and that bothered us some against Northside, Hanks said. ``We'll have to do a better job on the boards.''
Shannon Carter is the offensive leader for Gate City. He averages 26 points a game and had 42 in a 73-59 victory over Blacksburg in the Region IV tournament.
A look at the other games:
Robinson vs. Cave Spring (girls): Robinson (24-3) lost to Madison twice and is led by its guards - 5-foot-10 Kate Von Holle (14.5 points per game) and 5-7 Mandy Ronay (14.1). Robinson's guard tandem is expected to create quite a duel with Cave Spring senior guards Aimee and Allison Beightol. Aimee Beightol (17.9) was the Roanoke Valley District player of the year.
In its past four games, Cave Spring (21-4) has made 53 percent of its field-goal attempts and 80 percent of its free throws. Both teams press, and the Knights' pressure has been more effective lately since 6-foot center Jaclyn Banks moved to the point on defense.
Glenvar vs. Twin Springs (boys): Stacy Ervin, the nephew of the coach at Gate City and the state's hottest sophomore, leads Twin Springs (24-2), a perimeter-shooting team. In two years, the 6-3 guard has scored more than 1,200 points for the Titans.
``They like a half-court game, and we'll try and get them to play up-tempo,'' said Glenvar coach Art Lawrence, whose team is 18-8. ``We can't be concerned with what they do but with what we do, so we've worked on execution.''
Parry McCluer vs. Council (boys): Council (22-1), which likes the 3-point shot, lost its only game on a shot at the buzzer in the Region D final.
Council is led by 6-4 Mike Ratliff, who averages 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Fighting Blues (20-7) are playing their best basketball, overcoming a season of injuries and illness which culminated last week when point guard Chip Coleman broke a finger against Grayson County. He will not play again this season.
Christiansburg vs. Northside (boys): These two teams traditionally played a regular-season game until this year, when Christiansburg (20-5) dropped the Vikings (19-7) to play more of the former members of the New River District.
Christiansburg coach Gerald Thompson said his team must contain Northside guards Justin Porterfield and Ben Peete, but the inside game led by Maurice Garrison and Dana Gibson hurt his team a year ago. Northside coach Billy Pope warns the Demons are quicker and more experienced than his Vikings.
Pulaski County vs. James Madison (girls): The Cougars have played Madison four of the past five years, losing in the state finals once.
``They were very young last year and didn't lose a player,'' said Pulaski County coach Rod Reedy, who figures 6-2 Kim Cruise and forward Jody Hallett could present matchup problems for Madison.
James Madison (27-1) is led by Katie Smrcka-Duffy, a 5-8 guard who averages 31.6 points per game, and is regarded as the state's best player. Pulaski County is 21-4 with three losses coming to Cave Spring.
by CNB