ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 20, 1996 TAG: 9601230049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
Christiansburg High School scored an early victory in the race for the final New River District boys' basketball title Friday with a 69-59 win over rival Blacksburg.
The Blue Demons improved to 10-2 overall, 1-0 in the district. The Indians continue to struggle, falling to 3-6, 0-1.
Christiansburg shot 67 percent (12-of-18) from the field in the second half to break away from a four-point halftime lead.
The Blue Demons went practically the entire third quarter before missing their first shot of the second half, a jumper from the baseline with 1.1 seconds left.
"We were getting a lot of good open shots in the second half,'' Christiansburg coach Gerald Thompson said. "I wouldn't say they were uncontested shots, but they were definitely high-percentage shots.''
Christiansburg went on an 11-0 run with 2:47 remaining in the third quarter, giving the Demons a 49-37 lead.
Forward Carlton Ashbrook keyed the spurt, scoring the first seven points, including a 3-point goal that sparked the Blue Demons.
"Carlton played a good game tonight,'' Thompson said. "They were using their big kid to guard him, so he had a speed mismatch.''
Ashbrook led the Blue Demons with 24 points and David Rhudy tossed in 11.
Philip Klaus scored 23 for the Indians.
"Klaus is a great offensive player, but we were able to get him into foul trouble early, and that was a key in the game,'' Thompson said.
Christiansburg maintained its cushion for the next three minutes, and when Rhudy hit a reverse layup with 4:00 to play in the game, appeared to put the Indians away.
But Blacksburg responded with a 10-2 run of its own, capped by a 3-pointer from Randy Cross, that cut the Christiansburg lead to 60-55.
Five points was as close as the Indians would get. The Blue Demons converted nine of 16 free throws down the stretch to ice the victory.
"I'm disappointed in our free-throw shooting,'' Thompson said. "We're a 74 percent team, and tonight we shot horrible (19-of-34). I hope it's because of the long layoff.
"All in all we played pretty good, but it's still too early in the district season to get to happy.''
The Indians opened the game quickly, building a 6-0 lead on three Klaus field goals.
Christiansburg closed the gap to 13-10 by the start of the second quarter, then went on a 7-2 run to grab the lead for good at 17-15.
The Blue Demons forced 11 first-half turnovers in building a 29-25 lead at the intermission.
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff. Blacksburg's Randy Cross usesby CNBteammate Michael Davis as a screen as he shoots during second-half
action against Christiansburg. The Blue Demons downed the Indians
69-59.