ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 1, 1996 TAG: 9609030157
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
A SHOT AT THE BUZZER gives the Vikings a 40-39 victory over William Byrd.
If the Tip-off Girls tournament was a preview of the Blue Ridge District, then it's going to be an exciting girls' basketball season.
William Byrd and Northside played through 12 lead changes until Rosse Hopkins made the shot of her life Saturday night.
With her team trailing by one point, the Vikings senior, who hadn't made a shot all game, caught the ball at halfcourt with seven seconds remaining. But she didn't panic. Instead, she hit the game-winning layup as the clock expired.
As a result, Northside defeated William Byrd 40-39 at the Terriers' gym, winning its first Tip-off tournament title. And the Vikings (2-0) ended a three-game losing streak to the Terriers (1-1).
``I have never had a more exciting time in my life,'' said Hopkins, as tears dropped from her face. ``I really couldn't have asked for any other ending.
``I just took the ball down the court and I saw the center [Stephanie Parnell] coming toward me. I just wanted to get the ball off. This is by far the biggest shot of my life.''
Northside coach Marilyn Bussey agreed.
``This is my by far the biggest win in my career,'' she said. ``Rosse is a pretty good shooter. I felt like she was going to make it. And then when I looked up there was no time left on the clock.''
Until Hopkins' shot, the game easily could have been titled the Crystal Barrett and Andrea Gay show.
Despite missing the first most of the first half because of foul trouble, Barrett was unstoppable. The 6-0 Vikings center scored a game-high 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had two blocks.
Gay led the Terriers with a team-high 13 points. And the freshman seemed to make the right shot at the right time.
With her team trailing by one, the guard nailed a 3-point goal to end the third quarter. Then she made critical free throws down the stretch.
``Gay is a good penetrator," Bussey said. ``She is capable of making the open shot or finding a teammate cutting to the basket."
Gay's first two free throws gave the Terriers a 15-13 lead with 1:52 left to play in the first half.
The Vikings answered with a 12-4 run over the next seven minutes. But William Byrd took advantage of Northside's inability to find the basket during the final 2:30 of the third period. Gay's 3-pointer gave the Terriers a two-point lead entering the final quarter.
That's when most of the excitement came as the lead switched six times during the fourth quarter.
Barrett connected on a three-point play, giving the Vikings a 28-27 lead.
But Gay's basket with 4:31 left gave William Byrd a 35-30 lead.
The lead went back and fourth the rest of the way. And Hopkins hit the shot of her life.
In the consolation game, Amy Layman scored a team-high 15 points as Glenvar defeated Martinsville 65-42. Amanda Kennedy added 13 points for the Highlanders (1-1).
Tiffany Watkins led the Bulldogs (0-2) with 22 points.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 linesby CNB