ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, September 20, 1996 TAG: 9609200041
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
One of the most effective tools the Salem High School girls' basketball team employed to defeat Christiansburg 50-36 on Thursday night caused Spartans coach Dee Wright to ever so slightly wrinkle her nose afterward.
The Blue Demons had been pesky all night until finally being subdued, thanks in no small part to a zone defense the Spartans relied on throughout the fourth quarter of the Blue Ridge District game.
Christiansburg didn't hit its first field goal of the last period until Lisa Dalton drew close for a bucket with 2:01 left. By then, Salem had a 15-point lead constructed mostly during the time it had fortified itself behind the prickly zone.
The Spartans (6-1 overall, 2-0 district) went on to make 10 of 14 free throws (guard Lindsay Carroll went 5-for-6) in the last 2:13.
When somebody suggested the zone had been a key component as the Spartans pulled away, Wright behaved as though she preferred not to be reminded.
``We shouldn't have been beaten so many times in the man-[to-man],'' she said. ''I know you have to play a zone every now and then, but that doesn't mean you have to like it.''
Salem led 31-27 to start the fourth quarter. Christiansburg then proceeded to go 0-for-9 from the floor and failed to score on 11 consecutive possessions before Dalton finally broke the spell.
It was appropriate that Dalton did the honors because she was the Demons' most effective offensive producer all night. She went on to finish with 15 points. Tish Campbell was the No.2 scorer, with six points.
Christiansburg (4-3, 0-2) trailed 9-0 and spent the rest of the night in the chilly Spartans gym trying to make up for it.
``Right now, we are not a very consistent team,'' said Danny Knott, the Demons' coach. ``We're riding a roller coaster. We're either too high or too low. We can't find a middle ground.''
Salem had a more or less off night from one of its best players, Sara Palmer, who was hampered by fouls and finished with 12 points.
That didn't seem to matter a great deal, though, because four other players scored at least five points. Carroll chipped in 11, Erin Collins had 10 and Mandy Williams added eight.
``I'm frustrated with the discipline of our team,'' Wright said. ``Once we started to gain control, we went to the boards better. But we've got to stop waiting until that late to start playing.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 51 linesby CNB