ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 22, 1996 TAG: 9602220055
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
The outcome of Wednesday's Roanoke Valley District tournament semifinal game between William Fleming and Pulaski County was a certainty two minutes into the game.
What wasn't certain was how many Colonels would survive the battle intact and be ready for Saturday's championship tilt.
William Fleming starters Charles Burnette, Brad Dunleavy and James Stokes each spent time on the bench with minor injuries in their team's 70-47 romp over Pulaski County at the Salem Civic Center.
``We got a few scrapes and nicks out there tonight,'' Colonels coach Marshall Ashford said. ``Charles needs some stitches in his lip, but we expect all three to be ready Saturday.''
William Fleming (15-6) already was without the services of starter Sterling Tate, serving a one-game suspension for a fight with Cave Spring's Alex Phillips.
``We knew we were going to need someone to step up tonight because we didn't have Sterling,'' Ashford said.
Enter Rodney Morris. The 6-foot-3 sophomore forward scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Colonels.
``He played really well, especially for a guy we pulled up off the JV team midway through the season,'' Ashford said.
Morris was one of four William Fleming players to score in double figures. Stokes had 16, and Burnette and R.J. Reynolds scored 10 apiece.
Dorian Hendricks led the Cougars (6-13) with 13 points.
Wednesday's game against the district regular-season champs was Pulaski County's fourth in five days, a factor Cougars coach Pat Burns said was critical.
``Early on in the game you could see our guys bending over and pulling at their pants,'' Burns said. ``You can't beat a team as talented as Fleming when you're in that shape.''
William Fleming built a 32-18 halftime advantage on the strength of 54 percent (14 of 26) shooting from the field, while holding Pulaski County to just 35 percent (seven of 20).
The Colonels scored the game's first eight points, six on a pair of Reynold's 3-pointers, and held the Cougars without a field-goal attempt for the first 2:25.
``Our defense was geared to stop their penetration,'' Ashford said. ``Our guards did a great job of forcing some turnovers.''
Pulaski County committed 17 turnovers to William Fleming's nine. Cougar point guard Jamar McNair, playing on an injured ankle, was pressured heavily by the Colonels.
``He probably shouldn't even have played tonight,'' Burns said. ``His ankle was better last night against Franklin County. The kid just has so much heart.``
Things got worse for the Cougars in the game's second 16 minutes. The Colonels continued to blister the nets, connecting on six straight field goals at one point.
``We're playing pretty well right now,'' Ashford said. ``Our goal is to win the tournament so we can at least get one home game in the regionals. We want to continue our success in the tournament.''
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY/Staff James Stokes of William Fleming (50)by CNBshows his stuff against Pulaski County in the Colonels' RVD
tournament win. color