Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 22, 1995                   TAG: 9511220080
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES FLOYD
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FLOYD RUNS AWAY FROM HONAKER

Ho-hum. Make it 63.

With a stifling zone press and a fast-break offense in overdrive, the Buffaloes opened a 22-point halftime lead, and cruised to a 97-66 victory over Honaker.

The Buffaloes advance to the state semifinals next Friday in Salem. Floyd, which has won the state championship the past two years, will play George Mason, an 80-33 winner over Essex on Tuesday.

Stoking Floyd's offense were guards Melissa Cantrell (28 points) and Sara Conner (19 points). Post player Julie Sowers contributed 13 points, six assists and six rebounds.

But they had plenty of support. Eleven Buffaloes scored, as coach Alan Cantrell shuffled his line-up constantly.

``We try to play up-tempo,'' Cantrell said. ``We play pressure defense as much as we can. We try to run the legs out of the other team.

``We've got a lot of talented kids on the bench. I think we've got the best bench in the state, and when the other team goes to its bench, we usually pull ahead.''

Honaker coach Gordon Johnson was almost awestruck. ``We played a tremendous team,'' said Johnson, who has coached various sports at Honaker for 27 years. ``They kept a lot of pressure on us, and executed so well. We're just glad to have gotten far enough to play a team like Floyd.''

The Tigers (24-3) had lost only to Haysi (twice) prior to Tuesday.

Honaker stayed with its starting five for most of the game. ``We don't have the bench Floyd does,'' Johnson said.

Three Tigers' starters - playmaker Misty Davis, and inside players Kristen Jessee and Jody Compton - finished with 17 points each

The game was stopped briefly during the first half when Davis made a free throw for the 1,000th point of her career.

Cantrell took two hard falls during the game - one on an intentional foul in the first half, and the second in a rebound battle in the fourth quarter - but was not seriously injured.

``She's pretty tough,'' said her father, the coach. ``She's a physical player.''

NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.