ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 9, 1995 TAG: 9512100014
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
CHRIS CHILDRESS, free throws give William Byrd edge in a non-district win Friday.
Both Glenvar and William Byrd hope to improve on last year's basketball showings.
The Highlanders have to win only one more game since they were Group A runner-up a year ago. Byrd made the Region III tournament but this year the Terriers hope to win the Blue Ridge District and advance to the Group AA tournament.
Friday night, Byrd showed spurts of being a very good team. The Terriers built and gave up two huge leads before hitting key free throws at the end for a 76-64 non-district victory over the Highlanders in Vinton.
Chris Childress got 31 points, his second time in two games to hit the 30 mark or more. However, Mayo Wilson made three 3-point goals to spark the Terriers (2-0) from the outside and added four of five free throws in the final 1:01 to keep the Highlanders (1-1) from making a third run.
``There are a couple of things we need to do and one of them was when we were up 17 points. We started to play too fast,'' said Byrd coach Paul Barnard. ``We need to control the game.''
He was referring to a 52-35 lead his team built with 7:28 left. The Highlanders rallied behind James Williams and Cory Willis, who combined for 20 points in the final quarter. It was a jumper by Josh Williamson with 2:32 left that made it 64-58.
Williamson hit two free throws with 56.5 seconds remaining to make it 67-62, but then Glenvar ran out of steam and players as three starters and one reserve fouled out trying to stop the clock.
Wilson, Childress and Frank English hit 10-of-12 late free throws to blunt any Glenvar comeback. For the game, Childress missed one free throw in 13 attempts.
``The officials called fouls on us early and we had to change strategy,'' said Glenvar coach Art Lawrence. ``But in the first half, we didn't execute. We didn't make enough passes. We showed impatience and didn't get the ball into Willis and Williamson's hands enough.
``Byrd has a good defensive team and pressure defense sometimes makes kids make some unwise decisions.''
The Highlanders hit their first six shots for a 15-15 tie after one quarter. However, they missed their first eight opportunities in the second quarter, scored only six points and trailed 32-21 at intermission.
Then came the first rally. Williams hit seven points in the third quarter and Glenvar pulled to within 36-35 when Erik Helm hit a 3-point shot from the side. Byrd answered with a 16-0 run that started with two 3-pointers by Wilson.
Barnard liked what he saw from center Kevin Stump, who keyed the second-quarter spurt when he made all nine of his points. He also was the game's top rebounder with 10 as Byrd won the boards battle 36-29.
Wilson, besides his points, dealt out six assists. Willis led Glenvar with five assists. However, the Highlanders made only 25-of-55 from the field while Byrd was a respectable 21-of-46. Glenvar, after making 12 turnovers in the opening half, made only one in the final 16 minutes.
Lawrence wasn't unhappy with his team, which might be a challenger in the Group A ranks again this winter. His team was also without guard Eric East, who scored 18 points in the opener. He's out with a sprained ankle.
``Eric is quick and jumps well. He has experience. Hunter Allen and Aaron Kawa did a good job of filling in and had to play more than they have before. Mainly we had some good shots in the second half, but we a couple of times we just couldn't hit,'' said Lawrence.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: CINDY PINKSTON/Staff. Glenvar's Cory Willis (left)by CNBblocks a field-goal attempt by William Byrd's Chris Childress on
Friday night at William Byrd High School. Byrd won 76-64.