ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 20, 1996 TAG: 9601230006
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DALEVILLE
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
THE VIKINGS SCORE EARLY and often as they overwhelm the Cavaliers 68-39 in the Blue Ridge District.
Lord Botetourt's basketball team turned over the ball nine times while falling 13 points behind Northside on Friday night.
And that was in the first quarter.
So much for home-court advantage.
The Vikings parlayed a pressing defense, good shot selection and an off night by the opposition into an easy victory, pummeling Botetourt 68-39 in a Blue Ridge District game.
``I thought we really came out strong,'' said Billy Pope, Northside's coach. ``We got a few deflections, a few steals. And then on offense we didn't look for the first shot. We got a number of players involved; that's always a good sign.''
``Our intensity level was disappointing,'' said Ed Purdy, Botetourt's coach. ``This is a typical Northside team. They're physical; they pressure you. And we didn't take care of the basketball. Our offense was giving their defense layups.''
In a five-minute stretch, Northside (6-4 overall, 3-0 district) ran off 18 consecutive points, expanding a four-point lead to a 22-point advantage, at 33-11. Two Botetourt timeouts sandwiched around the first-quarter break didn't stem the tide.
Guard Ben Peete, who finished with a game-high 19 points, hit a basket at the 2:04 mark of the second quarter to give the Vikings a 40-16 lead, and the game essentially was over.
Spence Peters also turned in a sterling game for Northside. He made six of nine shots from the field for 16 points, including four 3-pointers on six attempts.
Peters' final basket, late in the third quarter, capped his performance. Peters lost the handle on a pass intended for a teammate in the lane, and the ball caromed off the backboard into the net.
``When you're hot, you're hot,'' Pope said. ``I just had a feeling it was going in.''
Botetourt's leading scorer was Michael Pauley, who managed 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting before fouling out.
Northside shot nearly 50 percent from the floor (24-of-49), while Botetourt hit 34 percent (14-of-41). The Cavaliers also made only 10 of 22 free-throw attempts (46 percent).
``We're better than we showed tonight,'' Purdy said. ``When [Northside] sees you backing up, they're going to turn it up that much more. We've got young kids and [the Vikings] intimidated us.''
Botetourt, which had not played a game since a seven-point victory at Rockbridge County on Jan.5, saw its record drop to 2-6, 1-1.
Northside played its reserves for much of the fourth quarter as Pope cleared his bench with a 60-31 lead and 6:30 to play.
``That was good for a couple of reasons,'' said the Vikings' coach. ``We got some guys in the game who needed to play. They did a pretty good job, too. And since we're playing again 24 hours later, we were able to rest our starters.''
Northside plays Petersburg, a perennial Group AAA power, in the fourth game of the Crestar Classic tonight at the Salem Civic Center. Tip-off is at 8:15.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 66 linesby CNB