ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210067
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LEXINGTON
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Though Northside senior guard Justin Porterfield insisted it was nothing special, it would be hard to convince Salem that was the case.
The 1995 All-Timesland player atoned for one of his worst days as he dominated the Spartans on Tuesday at Rockbridge County High School and skillfully guided the Vikings to a 68-57 playoff victory for the Blue Ridge District regular-season title.
Less than a month ago, Porterfield hit just one of 16 shots as the Spartans whipped Northside to set up a tie between the two teams. In the latest encounter, Porterfield hit 5-of-9 shots for a game-high 19 points, dished out nine assists and had three steals.
Along with the regular-season title, Northside (14-6) wrapped up a berth in the Region III tournament and needs to win only one game for a third consecutive trip to the Group AA tournament. Salem (13-8) must make its way back through the Blue Ridge District tournament starting with a semifinal game Friday against William Byrd.
Porterfield and Northside coach Billy Pope refused to say redemption motivated the playmaker.
``I think Justin plays hard every game. He concentrated on what we do as a team. He knew what he had to do and he did it,'' said Pope.
Asked if he thought about the last game, Porterfield said, ``Not at all. That was the past. I had to step up. We had to have a lot of good players step up. The juniors and the sophomores needed to step up.''
For a guy who wanted to pass out credits to teammates, there were a lot of long faces when Porterfield fouled out with 1:35 left. Eric Grinnell hit two free throws to bring the Spartans within three points at 59-56 and that's when Spence Peters stepped up.
The senior guard hit four consecutive free throws in the final 43.6 seconds. He also got two offensive rebounds when teammates missed free throws and snared a defensive rebound off a missed 3-point attempt by Salem.
``I could see the ball [each time]. I just had to grab it,'' said Peters, who didn't miss a shot during the game as he drilled three 3-point shots along with his free throws.
For that matter, Northside hardly missed - especially in the final quarter. The Vikings hit seven straight field-goal attempts and connected on 20-of-33 for the game. Scoring help for Peters and Porterfield came from Ben Peete with 15 points, three assists, two steals and seven rebounds.
Salem got scoring inside from Grinnell and Kwam Lewis, who combined for 31 points. They needed it as sophomore Herschel Thomas, who burned the Vikings for 30 points in the last meeting, got only two shots during the first three quarters and scored just 11 points before fouling out with 43.6 seconds left. Peters hit his first two free throws, starting Northside's 9-1 run.
Thomas was the victim of close guarding by Daryl Holmes and Xavier Lee, but the Vikings had a strange defensive ploy that no one recognized and Pope refused to explain in case the teams see each other again. Porterfield floated around the lane, playing what appeared to be a one-man zone.
``I don't know. At first I thought it was a triangle-and-two,'' said Salem coach Charlie Morgan.
Salem made 20-of-40 shots, but Northside owned a 26-14 edge on the boards.
Porterfield's best moment came in the third quarter as he dished out three assists that led to three straight baskets for a 39-29 lead. Then, after Salem caught up, the game's defining moment came with 2:06 left. Porterfield's running jumper made it 59-54, and fouled out 31 seconds later.
``My heart dropped when he went out,'' said Pope. ``I just hoped we could stay strong.''
Was it Porterfield's best game ever? ``Maybe, but I always want to go out and do my best every game. I had things going,'' Porterfield said.
``He played an excellent game. That's what you expect for your seniors to step up,'' said Morgan. ``He did last year [in a similar playoff game won by Northside]. He shot the lights out.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 linesby CNB