ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 1, 1996 TAG: 9603010075
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL scores 20 of the first 22 points of the fourth quarter to oust the Blue Demons from the Region IV boys' basketball tournament, 53-36.
Christiansburg High School's bid to return to the Group AA boys' basketball tournament came to an end Thursday with a 53-36 loss to Virginia High School of Bristol.
Virginia will advance to the Region IV final to face Gate City, a 63-54 winner over Grundy, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Bearcats scored 20 of the first 22 points in the fourth quarter, including a 14-0 run, to end any hopes of a Blue Demons comeback.
``I told the team we couldn't allow Christiansburg to work themselves back into the game,'' said Carlos Lee, Virginia's coach. ``They responded with a great defensive effort down the stretch.''
Damon Peters led the Bearcats to their first state tournament berth since 1993 with 17 points. Christiansburg's Carlton Ashbrook hit for a team-high 12.
``Damon's been our go-to guy all year when we get in a tough situation,'' Lee said. ``He made some clutch shots tonight when we needed them.''
Christiansburg trailed 26-17 at the half, but held its opponents to 1-of-13 shooting and four points in the third quarter while closing to 30-26.
The Blue Demons scored the first points of the final period, but that was about all, shooting 4-of-13 in the final eight minutes.
``We just didn't have any offense out there at all tonight,'' said Gerald Thompson, Christiansburg's coach. ``We missed about five easy transistion opportunities, and our best 3-point shooter wasn't even close tonight.''
The Blue Demons shot 32 percent (15-of-47) from the floor and missed its first nine 3-point attempts before finishing 2-of-11 from beyond the arc.
``We fought back and got the score close,'' Thompson said. ``We played pretty good defense. Normally, when we hold someone to 53 points with this kind of tempo we'll win.''
Despite his team's horrible performance from the field, Christiansburg still had a chance to win entering the fourth quarter.
Blue Demons center Mike Kazee's put-back of an Ashbrook miss cut the Bearcats lead to two, at 30-28, with 7:37 to play.
Virginia responded in championship fashion, connecting on six consecutive field-goal attempts, while forcing three Christiansburg turnovers.
``We changed up and went to a [man-to]-man defense,'' Lee said. ``The change looked like it confused them some, and we got some turnovers out of it.''
The lone bright spot for the Blue Demons was the play of Ashbrook. The senior forward connected on six of 10 shots from the field.
``Carlton played a heck of a game,'' Thompson said. ``He kept us in it the entire game. He's got a great heart. He just didn't get enough help.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY/Staff. Virginia's Damon Peters (left) grabs aby CNBrebound in front of Christiansburg's Michael Kazee (right) and
Carlton Ashbrook (on floor). color.