ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 4, 1996 TAG: 9603040133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
After blowing a 30-point halftime lead, Virginia Western regained its composure and beat Patrick Henry 120-114 on Sunday in the championship game of the Virginia community college Southwest Region basketball tournament.
The Blue Stars led 76-46 at halftime, but Patrick Henry began pressing and stormed back to tie the score at 100. Virginia Western, behind 37 points from former Franklin County High School star Tremayne McHeimer, then jumped back out in front and held on for the win.
Sam Barrett (Northside) added 27 points for the Blue Stars, and David Ross (Liberty) scored 26.
``The first half was just unbelievable,'' said Blue Stars coach Jim Bono. ``Everything we shot went in. We must have shot 90 percent.
``Then [Patrick Henry] started hitting 3s in the second half, and we had a hard time containing their full-court press.''
Virginia Western, the defending state community college champion, will defend its title in the state tournament March 15-17 at Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton. Patrick Henry, New River and Wytheville community colleges also will participate.
Virginia Western was 17-for-19 at the free-throw line.
Jovan Jones paced Patrick Henry with 38 points, including six 3-pointers, and Rod Mitchell (Carlisle) added 30 points.
VIRGINIA WESTERN (13-5)
Ross 26, Jacobs 6, McHeimer 37, Terry 8, Barrett 27, Johnston 16.
PATRICK HENRY CC (11-8)
Mitchell 30, Clark 6, Jones 38, Haynes 18, Preston 14, Grant 8.
Halftime-Virginia Western, 76-46. Three-point goals-Ross, McHeimer 3, Barrett 5, Johnston 2, Mitchell 4, Jones 6, Haynes.
LENGTH: Short : 41 linesby CNB