Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 22, 1995 TAG: 9511220089
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The 5-foot-8 senior did more than her share to push the Cavaliers forward in the Group AA girls' tournament with a career-high 15 points Tuesday night in a 72-56 first-round victory over Blacksburg.
The Cavaliers (24-4) play Culpeper, which beat Brunswick 49-35, in a state semifinal Dec.1 at the Salem Civic Center.
Michalski wasn't the only Cavalier to achieve a career high. Junior center Sarah Hicks scored 32, including 12 in the opening quarter when Botetourt built a 21-5 lead.
After that, the Cavaliers simply couldn't put away Blacksburg (11-14) until the last few minutes. The Indians never came closer than 12 points in the second half, but they also prevented Botetourt from making a run to put the game out of reach.
This was Lord Botetourt's third victory over Blacksburg by more than 10 points this season, but this time the teams were more evenly matched.
``I expected them [the Indians] to be much improved. They were because they had staying power,'' said David Wheat, the Cavaliers' coach . ``In September, if we had gotten an early lead we would have extended it.''
When Blacksburg did cut the score, though, Michalski and Hicks dominated inside with key stick-backs.
``I was just going for rebounds,'' said Michalski, who had 10 points in the third quarter to keep the Indians from mounting a rally. ``It's my senior year and I didn't want to end it now. I want it to go to the end'' in the state title game.
Hicks, who had trouble hitting free throws in a couple of games the past two weeks, hit seven in a row as Botetourt went 20-for-25.
The Indians' best chance at getting back into the game came early in the final quarter. Down 56-44, Blacksburg's defense forced three turnovers, but the Indians couldn't convert the chances.
``We didn't have anything click offensively,'' said Mickey McGuigan, the Indians' coach. ``We just didn't get anything going the way we're capable of doing. If we could have gotten it under 10, it might have given us a spark that it's [victory] not that far away.''
Senior April Rogers was brilliant for Blacksburg, with a game-high 18 points. She also did a good job defensively on Botetourt guard Sara Moore, holding her to 12 points.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB