Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 17, 1995 TAG: 9503170059
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
With images of the 1975 Group AA tournament burning brightly, the Highlanders rallied to defeat Nandua 60-56 in a Group A semifinal Thursday night at Liberty University's Vines Center.
Glenvar will play at 1 p.m. Saturday against William Monroe, a 46-43 winner over Parry McCluer in Thursday's other semifinal.
Watching Glenvar's latest miracle was Lynchburg College coach Joe Davis. It was Davis who guided the Highlanders, 13-7 during the regular season, to a Group AA title that shocked many who gave the Highlanders no chance.
Glenvar, stealing memories of its 1975 counterpart, rallied from 10 points down in the final 3:48.
It was Nick Varney's 3-pointer that put the Highlanders (20-8) ahead 54-53 with 1:28 left.
``I didn't even know we were ahead until after I looked up'' at the scoreboard, said Glenvar's Corey Willis. That's how fast and furious this rally was.
Varney, a senior point guard who has played on state title teams in golf and tennis, scored all seven of his points in the fourth quarter.
That's when the Highlanders caught Nandua (27-2) after trailing nearly the entire game and overcoming 7-for-30 field-goal shooting in the first half.
``Our first-half execution was awful and we were down by only six,'' said Art Lawrence, Glenvar's coach. ``I told the team they could win if they did better.''
Glenvar settled down and made 14 of 29 shots after intermission.
Dennis Custis, Nandua's coach, wasn't any happier at the end than Lawrence was at the half. His team averages 92 points a game, yet failed to dent 60.
Nandua had its chances at the free-throw line, but hit only 10 of 24. Glenvar wasn't much better, going 14-for-28.
``We shot 72 percent from the line during the season,'' Custis said. ``Both [Mike] Lee and [Loyal] Grimes were over 80 percent. But we couldn't make the free throws. It just wasn't our night.''
Grimes and Lee combined to hit only eight of 19 from the line, with Lee missing all five of his attempts. Still, in the final quarter when Glenvar was rallying, Grimes canned six of nine and Nandua was 7-of-11.
The Highlanders' defense and the tempo of the game were something else disagreeing with Nandua.
``I didn't expect 92 points in this game,'' Custis said. ``But we couldn't get the pace we wanted.''
Glenvar kept switching defenses and forced nine turnovers in the final quarter as the Warriors fell apart.
One key turnover came just after Jason Darnall's follow shot made it 53-49 with 2:10 left. Two seconds later, Varney picked off a pass and hit a layup to make it a two-point-game.
``Corey and Jason trapped their player and one of them tipped the pass into my hands,'' Varney said.
``We were trying to mix up our defenses between a zone, a half-court press and a full-court press,'' Lawrence said. ``Whenever they were comfortable with one, we'd change.''
After Varney made it a two-point game, Grimes missed the front end of a one-and-one. Varney came back with his 3-pointer, but the game was far from finished.
Grimes hit two free throws with 1:17 left to give Nandua a 55-54 lead, but James Williams' layup with 1:04 left put the Highlanders ahead again.
Grimes, who led both teams with 25 points, hit one free throw to tie it. Matt Atkinson, who was playing with a sore elbow and ankle after being hammered on a layup attempt, put Glenvar back ahead by making a free throw with 50 seconds left.
The end then came quickly for Nandua. Varney stole the ball from the Warriors and Atkinson got a layup to make it a 3-point lead. Nandua's last chance came on a 3-point attempt by Lee that was far off target with two seconds left. Darnall hit a free throw to make it a four-point game.
``I tried not to think about it [two earlier comebacks that fizzled], but there was a sense of urgency in the fourth quarter. No one wanted the season to end tonight,'' said Varney.
NOTE: PLease see microfilm for scores.
by CNB