Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511030100
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Two nights after her lowest hour, Lord Botetourt junior Sarah Hicks had the best game of her career.
The 6-foot center scored 29 points and snared 23 rebounds as the Cavaliers upset Salem 74-62 on Thursday in girls' basketball.
It was not the most points Hicks has scored, but it was her most dominating performance. She acknowledged, ``I played defense wisely, rebounded well and I felt confident. I definitely feel it was the best game of my career.''
``Sarah was still thinking about the other night,'' said David Wheat, Lord Botetourt's coach. ``Yesterday we had a scrimmage just to loosen the team up and Sarah played like a woman possessed.''
The play of Hicks kept defending champion Salem from clinching the Blue Ridge District crown as the Spartans dropped back into a tie with William Byrd. The teams will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at Lord Botetourt in a playoff for the regular-season title and the district's top spot in the Region III tournament.
Botetourt, eliminated Tuesday night in a one-point loss to William Byrd, must make its way back through the district tournament if it hopes to make the regional tournament. No matter, only two teams will make regional play from what has been a three-squad race all fall in the Blue Ridge.
For Salem, Hicks wasn't the only bad news. Starting guard Mandy Williams went down with a knee injury just before intermission, leaving her status in doubt. She was helped to the bench and could not walk under her own power.
``I'm afraid it's bad,'' said Dee Wright, Salem's coach. ``It might be ligament damage. But I told the team it's not many times you have two tries to win a regular-season title.''
Hicks was the first part of the story. Thanks to her play, Lord Botetourt (18-3 overall, 7-3 in the district) stayed in the game in the first half, then blew out the Spartans early in the third period. Botetourt went on a 19-4 run to open a 47-35 lead with Hicks scoring seven points including a 3-point shot.
Hicks had 14 rebounds in the first half, then collected seven in the final quarter to help thwart a Salem rally. The Spartans (15-4, 8-2) twice closed to six points, but each time Botetourt stopped the rally.
Hicks needed help and got it from junior guard Sara Moore. After scoring five points in the opening half, Moore collected 21 after intermission, including eight in the Cavaliers' run.
Hicks and Moore connected on 18 of 33 attempts from the field and 15 of 21 from the free-throw line. They also combined for 32 rebounds and seven assists.
Katrina Elliott also came through, making four consecutive free throws for the Cavaliers in the final minutes when Salem was fouling.
``Everyone came through in the clutch,'' Wheat said. ``But it was also sort of a 1-2 punch with Hicks and Moore. I really believe all three of these teams can beat each other and it's a matter of who is playing better next week [in the district tournament].''
Shellie Johnson scored 19 to lead Salem despite being hounded by a box-and-one defense and experiencing foul problems. The Cavaliers outrebounded Salem 49-43 and had the Spartans in foul trouble with Johnson and Sarah Palmer sitting out long stretches in the first half.
``They jumped out and we didn't move the ball well,'' Wright said. ``With Mandy out, Shellie had to play point guard. She's practiced at that position, but she's not real comfortable.''
see microfilm for box score
by CNB