Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 27, 1995 TAG: 9509270058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Buffaloes, who were saddled with three consecutive losses this month, avenged their biggest setback, downing Salem 59-57 on Tuesday night in a non-district game on the Spartans' court.
It was Salem that shocked the state by beating Floyd County on a last-second shot by Shellie Johnson on the Buffaloes' court this month. That ended Floyd County's 59-game winning streak and started a three-game losing cycle against Group AA Blue Ridge District teams.
Floyd County knocked off Northside last week to avenge one of those defeats. Only William Byrd is left and they'll battle Saturday night in Floyd.
Johnson also hit a last-second shot in Tuesday's game, but this time a 3-pointer only served to make the ending closer. Floyd County (6-3) had clinched the victory when Jill Quesenberry and Melissa Cantrell each hit free throws in the final 30 seconds to put the Buffaloes ahead by five points.
Floyd County nearly lost a 17-point lead it held in the third quarter. Sparked by Sara Conner, the Buffaloes led 49-32 only to see Salem cut its deficit to a point when Johnson hit one of two free throws with 2:04 left.
J.J. Sowers of Floyd County and Salem's Tina Slate swapped quick baskets before Quesenberry and Cantrell hit their free throws.
``We lost our enthusiasm for a while. We started playing not to lose instead of playing to win,'' Cantrell said.
If the Spartans (6-2) could have hit free throws, the rally might have worked. Salem made only 16 of 31 from the line while Floyd County cashed in on 15 of 19.
Although the Buffaloes lost three starters to fouls, coach Alan Cantrell has a deep bench. It paid off with Karen Pursifull getting nine rebounds, and Quesenberry and Sowers each scoring 11 points.
The game turned in the opening minutes of the third period. Floyd County scored the first nine points to start a 14-2 run as Conner collected eight points after missing all six shots she attempted in the first half.
``I wasn't really focused the first half,'' Conner said. ``I just made up my mind to get the job done. This was a game for pride. We wanted it badly.''
``We just wanted to prove we were a different team from past Floyd County teams. Whatever they could do, we can do. We know we can play,'' Melissa Cantrell said.
As for revenge, Alan Cantrell never had to talk about it to his team.
``We wanted to use this week to get something back when we went to Salem. But we didn't mention the first game,'' he said.
Salem had its chances.
``In the third quarter, we stopped attacking. Then in the final minutes, we didn't execute what we were supposed to do,'' said Salem coach Dee Wright.
The Buffaloes also went to a box-and-one defense on Johnson, setting their minds that the same player wouldn't beat them twice. Johnson, who scored 13 points to tie for team-high honors with Slate, got only nine shots for the game.
``We didn't start working on that until yesterday,'' Alan Cantrell said. ``We wanted to see if it worked and, when it did, we stayed with it.''
Neither team shot well from the floor. Floyd County made only 21 of 56 shots. The Spartans were colder, making just 19 of 58. Floyd County owned the boards 48-33.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB