ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 6, 1996 TAG: 9601100034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
MEMO: Different version ran in the New River edition.
PULASKI COUNTY uses a solid defense to defeat the Cave Spring Knights 54-36.
Score this one for Pulaski County.
The Cougars passed a test Friday, lacing Cave Spring 54-36 and showing that they are on target for what is becoming a two-team duel in the Roanoke Valley District girls' basketball race.
Pulaski County never trailed and really never was in trooble. However, the Cougars have won the first game in the series the past two years so the win wasn't unusual. What was different was the way the Cougars' defense shut down the Knights, allowing just 11 points in the opening half as Pulaski County built a 16-point lead.
Robyn Bower paced the defense with four of Pulaski County's 10 steals that disrupted the Knights all night. The Cougars extended a press past midcourt and made it tough for Cave Spring to pass and set up an offense.
Pulaski County (6-5 overall, 4-0 RVD) also outrebounded the much taller Knights 15-5 in the opening quarter and 32-30 for the game. This wasn't surprising to Pulaski County coach Buddy Farris.
``When we went to Washington [for a Christmas tournament], every team was bigger than us. We had to learn how to box out,'' Farris said.
Bower said the Cougars practiced defense all week long. ``I finally learned to move my feet,'' the junior said.
There was more than practice associated with this victory. The Cougars were ready for Cave Spring, which upset them in the district tournament last winter after Pulaski County had won the regular-season title.
``I've been waiting for them since then,'' said Bower. ``All we've heard is about Cave Spring. I've never seen our team psyched up like this.''
Pulaski County scored the first eight points and the Knights (6-3, 3-1) were helpless most of the first half. Cave Spring came to life in the third period with four straight baskets en route to a 10-2 run that trimmed the Cougars' lead to 29-21. Twice Cave Spring had a chance to cut the lead to six, but either missed a shot or threw away the ball. The Knights finished with 26 turnovers.
``We didn't do anything we needed to do to win,'' said Cave Spring coach Linda Long. ``We passed the ball poorly, didn't rebound and got off to a poor start that gave Pulaski County momentum. Then when we had a chance to cut the score, we can't make the big basket or defensive play at the other end.
``Instead of being a good team, we're a so-so team because we don't do the little things. We work on getting the ball to the post every day, but we don't get it there. And we have potentially the best post players in the state.''
The Knights, thanks to senior Cheryl Rhodes, kept high-scoring Katrina Williams, a freshman guard, under control with nine points. The problem was everyone else was getting open for the Cougars.
``Katrina isn't the only one who can score. We're not a one-dimensional team,'' said Farris. ``My philosophy is teamwork. I tell our players, if you don't want to [try and] score, then you sit on the bench.''
The Cougars hit 21 of 52 field-goal attempts and had only one double-figure scorer - Lisa Skeens with 11. Cave Spring tried to press early, but it didn't work.
Jaclyn Banks tried to get the Knights started in the second half, scoring all five of her baskets after halftime. She got no consistent scoring help, explaining why every Cave Spring rally fizzled. The Knights also trimmed Pulaski County's margin to eight early in the final period, but the Cougars got going again to pull away for a 18-point victory.
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff Pulaski players celebrate the Cougars'by CNBcrushing, 54-36 victory over Cave Spring on Friday. color